Electoral Commission UK

07/08/2025

It’s a by-election Thursday. 🗳️
By-elections are being held today in different parts of the UK. This includes areas of:

Cannock Chase
Carmarthenshire
County Durham

To vote in local council by-elections in England you need to show accepted photo ID. Head to our website to see the full list of accepted ID.

Check if there’s a by-election in your area today:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

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Mae’n ddydd Iau is-etholiadau! 🗳️

Mae is-etholiadau’n cael eu cynnal heddiw yn rhannau gwahanol o’r DU. Mae hyn yn cynnwys meysydd:

Sir Gaerfyrddin

Gwirio a oes is-etholiad yn eich ardal Heddiw: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cy/rwyf-yneg-pleidleisiwr/pleidleisiwr/gwybodaeth-etholiad

Find upcoming elections in your area, your polling station, candidates, and contact details for your local electoral services team

31/07/2025

By-elections are happening today! 🗳️

A by-election is an election which takes place outside of the usual election cycle. They happen when an elected position becomes available. By-elections can take place for most elected positions, including MPs and local councillors.

This can happen when an elected official:
▪️resigns
▪️dies
▪️is declared bankrupt
▪️is convicted of a serious criminal offence
▪️is disqualified from being a councillor
▪️loses their seat in the House of Commons as a result of a recall petition

When a councillor or MP is elected through a by-election, they serve the remainder of the original term.

E.g. In England, councillors sit for a four-year term. If a by-election takes place one year after the scheduled election for that seat, the councillor who is elected will serve the remaining three years until the next scheduled local election.

Check if you have a by-election where you live: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

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Mae is-etholiadau’n cael eu cynnal heddiw! 🗳️

Is-etholiad yw etholiad sy'n digwydd y tu allan i'r cylch etholiadol arferol. Maent yn digwydd pan fydd swydd etholedig yn dod ar gael. Gellir cynnal is-etholiadau ar gyfer y rhan fwyaf o swyddi etholedig, gan gynnwys ASau a chynghorwyr lleol.

Gall hyn ddigwydd pan fydd swyddog etholedig:

▪️ yn ymddiswyddo
▪️ yn marw
▪️ yn cael ei ddatgan yn fethdalwr
▪️ yn cael ei gollfarnu am drosedd ddifrifol
▪️ yn cael ei anghymhwyso rhag bod yn gynghorydd
▪️ yn colli ei sedd yn Nhŷ’r Cyffredin o ganlyniad i ddeiseb ad-dalw

Pan fydd cynghorydd neu AS yn cael ei drwy is-etholiad, bydd yn gwasanaethu am weddill y tymor gwreiddiol.

e.e. Yng Nghymru, mae cynghorwyr yn eistedd am dymor o bum mlynedd. Os cynhelir is-etholiad flwyddyn ar ôl etholiad sydd wedi’i drefnu ar gyfer y sedd honno, bydd y cynghorydd sy'n cael ei ethol yn gwasanaethu am y pedair blynedd tan yr etholiad lleol nesaf.

Gwirio a oes is-etholiad yn eich ardal heddiw: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cy/rwyf-yneg-pleidleisiwr/pleidleisiwr/gwybodaeth-etholiad

Find upcoming elections in your area, your polling station, candidates, and contact details for your local electoral services team

30/07/2025

By-elections are taking place tomorrow (31 July) in areas of:

📍 Warrington
📍 Barking and Dagenham
📍 North Devon

❗You need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station in England. See what ID is accepted: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

🕖 Polling stations will be open from 7am – 10pm.

Check if you have a by-election where you live: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

Find upcoming elections in your area, your polling station, candidates, and contact details for your local electoral services team

29/07/2025

A quick look at the details we know so far about the government's plans to lower the voting age to 16 🗳️

Welsh translation below 👇


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Mae llywodraeth y DU wedi cadarnhau ei bwriad i gyflwyno’r hawl i bobl 16 a 17 oed bleidleisio.

Bydd yr oedran cofrestru i bleidleisio hefyd yn cael ei ostwng, i 14. Mae hyn yn golygu, os bydd etholiad yn disgyn ar ben-blwydd rhywun yn 16 oed neu’n fuan ar ôl hynny, y byddant yn dal i allu pleidleisio.

Bydd gostwng yr oedran pleidleisio yn annog pobl ifanc i gael dweud eu dweud ar eu dyfodol. Mae ymchwil wedi canfod mai arfer yw pleidleisio; y cynharaf y mae pobl yn ymwneud â democratiaeth, y mwyaf tebygol yw y byddant yn cymryd rhan mewn etholiadau am weddill eu hoes.

Ond er mwyn grymuso pobl ifanc i bleidleisio, mae angen eu haddysgu ar ddemocratiaeth. Rydym wedi bod yn galw am ddiweddaru’r cwricwlwm cenedlaethol fel bod pobl ifanc yn cael eu dysgu am etholiadau a llythrennedd y cyfryngau, a byddwn yn gweithio'n agos gyda'r llywodraeth, ysgolion a grwpiau ieuenctid i helpu i baratoi pobl ifanc i fwrw eu pleidlais gyntaf yn hyderus.

24/07/2025

It’s a by-election Thursday. 🗳️ By-elections are being held today in different parts of the UK.

This includes areas of:
Bromley
Cardiff
Dacorum
Dorset
Hertsmere
Lichfield
Rutland

❗ You need to show accepted photo ID to vote in local council by-elections in England. See the full list of accepted ID: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id/accepted-forms-photo-id

📍 Check if there’s a by-election where you live: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

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Mae’n ddydd Iau is-etholiadau! 🗳️

Mae is-etholiadau’n cael eu cynnal heddiw yn rhannau gwahanol o’r DU. Mae hyn yn cynnwys meysydd:

Caerdydd

📍 Gwirio a oes is-etholiad yn eich ardal Heddiw: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cy/rwyf-yneg-pleidleisiwr/pleidleisiwr/gwybodaeth-etholiad

Find upcoming elections in your area, your polling station, candidates, and contact details for your local electoral services team

21/07/2025

Turnout for England's May local elections was 34%. That's low, but not unusual for local elections.

97% of people in election areas knew one was happening. So why is turnout low, and what can be done to engage more voters? 💡

View our resources here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/resources
Read the full 2025 local elections report: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/research-reports-and-data/our-reports-and-data-past-elections-and-referendums/report-may-2025-local-elections-england

18/07/2025

Follow us for more details on the government's electoral reforms, and what they'll mean for you 🗳️

Welsh translation below 👇



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Mae llywodraeth y DU wedi cadarnhau eu bwriad i gyflwyno’r hawl i bobl 16 a 17 oed bleidleisio.

Mae hyn yn rhan o restr newydd ei chyhoeddi o ddiwygiadau etholiadol y bydd y llywodraeth yn edrych i'w cyflwyno yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf.

Dyma grynodeb cyflym o'r cynigion:

Cofrestru awtomataidd, fel y gellir ychwanegu pobl at y gofrestr etholiadol yn hawdd.

Cardiau banc fel ffurf ddilys o ddogfen adnabod y gallwch eu dangos i bleidleisio.

Bydd fersiynau digidol o ddogfennau adnabod derbyniol – fel trwydded yrru – yn ddilys.

Bydd troseddwyr a geir yn euog o aflonyddu neu fygwth ymgeisydd gwleidyddol yn cael eu gwahardd rhag dal swydd etholedig neu sefyll i gael ei ethol am gyfnod o 5 mlynedd ar ben derbyn eu dedfryd troseddol – a bydd y dedfrydau hynny’n mynd yn llymach o dan bwerau newydd i lysoedd.

Ac ystod eang o bolisïau i amddiffyn ein hetholiadau rhag ymyrraeth ac a***n anghyfreithlon.

Byddwn yn mynd i fwy o fanylion am hyn i gyd yn y dyddiau a'r wythnosau nesaf, ac yn trafod sut y bydd yn effeithio arnoch chi.

Felly dilynwch ni i gael gwybod!

17/07/2025

Total spending at the 2024 UK general election reached a record high of £94.5M.

We’ve published data today showing how much larger political parties and campaigners spent.

Seven parties reported spending £250,000 or more. The three largest parties continue to be the top spenders. 👇

Labour Party: £30.1M
Conservative and Unionist Party: £23.9M
Liberal Democrats: £5.6M
Reform UK: £5.5M
Green Party: £1.7M
Scottish National Party (SNP): £0.8M
Co-operative Party: £0.3M

See our analysis of the spending data published today: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/research-reports-and-data/our-reports-and-data-past-elections-and-referendums/report-campaign-spending-2024-uk-parliamentary-general-election

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Cyrhaeddodd gwa***nt etholiad cyffredinol y DU 2024 gyfanswm o £94.5M, yr uchaf erioed.

Rydym wedi cyhoeddi data heddiw sy'n dangos faint y mae pleidiau gwleidyddol ac ymgyrchwyr mwy wedi'i wario.

Adroddodd saith plaid eu bod wedi gwario dros £250,000. Y tair plaid fwyaf yw’r rhai sy’n parhau i wario fwyaf. 👇

Y Blaid Lafur: £30.1M
Y Blaid Geidwadol ac Unoliaethol :£23.9M
Y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol: £5.6M
Reform UK: £5.5M
Y Blaid Werdd: £1.7M
Plaid Genedlaethol yr Alban (SNP): £0.8M
Y Blaid Gydweithredol (Co-operative Party): £0.3M

Gwelwch ein dadansoddiad o'r data gwa***nt a gyhoeddwyd heddiw: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cy/ymchwil-adroddiadau-a-data/ein-hadroddiadau-a-data-ar-etholiadau-a-refferenda-yn-y-gorffennol/adroddiad-ar-wa***nt-ymgyrchu-yn-etholiad-cyffredinol-senedd-y-du-2024

17/07/2025

📢 The UK Government have published a paper outlining their plans for electoral reform to improve the system for voters.

Some of the key changes that will affect voters are:

🗳️ Votes at 16. Lowering the voting age to 16 for all UK elections. People will be able to register to vote from the age of 14.

🗳️ Move towards automatic voter registration. People may be automatically registered to vote. This will make it easier for more people to vote and is something we’ve been recommending for a long time.

🗳️ Changes to Voter ID. UK-issued bank cards as voter ID in Great Britain if the card shows their name.

Digital versions of ID to vote at a polling station. Including a digital version of the Voter Authority Certificate (free voter ID).

❗These changes are not in place yet. The government will bring forward a Bill before any changes are passed into law.

We’ll be covering the government’s plans in more detail over the coming days. Stay tuned. 🔒



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📢 Mae Llywodraeth y DU wedi cyhoeddi papur yn amlinellu eu cynlluniau ar gyfer diwygio etholiadol i wella'r system i bleidleiswyr.

Dyma rai o'r newidiadau allweddol a fydd yn effeithio ar bleidleiswyr:

🗳️ Pleidleisio yn 16 oed. Gostwng yr oedran pleidleisio i 16 ar gyfer pob etholiad yn y DU. Bydd pobl yn gallu cofrestru i bleidleisio o 14 oed ymlaen.

🗳️ Symud tuag at gofrestru pleidleiswyr yn awtomatig. Gall pobl gael eu cofrestru'n awtomatig i bleidleisio. Bydd hyn yn ei gwneud hi'n haws i fwy o bobl bleidleisio ac mae'n rhywbeth rydyn ni wedi bod yn ei argymell ers amser maith.

🗳️ Newidiadau i ID Pleidleisiwr.
Cardiau banc a gyhoeddwyd yn y DU fel ID pleidleiswyr ym Mhrydain Fawr os yw'r cerdyn yn dangos eu henw.

Fersiynau digidol o ddogfen adnabod i bleidleisio mewn gorsaf bleidleisio.
Gan gynnwys fersiwn ddigidol o'r Dystysgrif Awdurdod Pleidleiswyr (ID pleidleiswyr am ddim).

❗ Nid yw'r newidiadau hyn ar waith eto. Bydd y llywodraeth yn cyflwyno Bil cyn i unrhyw newidiadau gael eu pasio'n gyfraith.

Byddwn yn trafod cynlluniau’r llywodraeth yn fanylach dros y dyddiau nesaf.
Cadwch lygaid allan. 🔒

17/07/2025

It’s a by-election Thursday. 🗳️

By-elections are being held today in different parts of the UK. This includes areas of:

Basildon
Dartford
Denbighshire
Harborough
Neath Port Talbot
Liverpool
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Staffordshire

To vote in local council by-elections in England you need to show accepted photo ID. Head to our website to see the full list of accepted ID.

Check if there’s a by-election in your area today: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

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Mae’n ddydd Iau is-etholiadau! 🗳️

Mae is-etholiadau’n cael eu cynnal heddiw yn rhannau gwahanol o’r DU. Mae hyn yn cynnwys meysydd:

Castell-nedd Port Talbot
Rhonda Cynon Taf
Sir Ddinbych

Gwirio a oes is-etholiad yn eich ardal Heddiw: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cy/rwyf-yneg-pleidleisiwr/pleidleisiwr/gwybodaeth-etholiad

Find upcoming elections in your area, your polling station, candidates, and contact details for your local electoral services team

14/07/2025

📣 56% of voters we surveyed after the 2025 England local elections said mis and disinformation was a problem. Though voters felt they’d seen or heard less misinformation than at the UK general election.

At this year's elections:
42% said they saw or heard misinformation about party policies.
29% said they saw or heard misinformation about individual candidates.
18% said they saw or heard misinformation about electoral processes.

People were more likely to see misinformation online, than offline.

🔍 Young people were more likely to say they’d seen misinformation than older age groups. Last year we found that they’re also more likely to take action, such as fact checking or reporting it. Though most people did nothing.

💭 It's important to think critically about what you see and hear during an election. We have information to help: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/campaigning-your-vote

To protect our democracy, we’ll continue to:

➡️ support voters to develop political and media literacy skills
➡️ run awareness campaigns and publish accurate information for voters, including political finance data
➡️ challenge social media companies and online publishers to identify and remove misinformation
➡️ encourage campaigners to campaign responsibly and transparently

10/07/2025

It’s a by-election Thursday! 🗳️

By-elections are taking place today (10 July) in areas of:

Bassetlaw
Hartlepool
Mole Valley
Rotherham
Surrey
Tewkesbury
Vale of White Horse
Wealden
Woking
Isle of Wight

❗You need to show accepted photo ID to vote in local council by-elections in England. See the full list of accepted ID: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id

Check if there’s a by-election where you live: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information