Who can vote
To vote in these elections residents must be:
- 18 or over on polling day
- a British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen
- registered to vote
Find out if you are able to register to vote.
How to register to vote
If you are not yet registered to vote, the easiest way is to register to vote online. You must register before the deadline at midnight on Monday 20 April 2026.
If you prefer, you can request a paper application form from electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk or telephone 0208 726 6300.
If you are already registered to vote you do not need to re-register.
How to cast your vote
You can opt to:
- vote at your local polling station
- vote by post
- appoint a proxy (someone to vote on your behalf) if you have a reason why you cannot attend your polling station
Voting in polling stations
Croydon is split into 153 polling districts, each has a polling station. You will be allocated to a specific polling station and can only vote at that station (unless you have organised a postal or proxy vote).
You will be sent a poll card at the beginning of April, with information about where your polling station is located. We will also have a polling station finder available from the beginning of April which you can use to find your polling station using your home postcode.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm, Thursday 7 May.
Following a review of polling districts and polling places in 2024, some new polling stations will be used at these elections, and some of the polling districts have been changed. You may have a different polling station on 7 May so please check your poll card carefully before you go to vote.
Find more information about voting at a polling station.
Voting by post
The deadline to register for a postal vote, or to change or cancel an existing postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
Find more information, apply online, and download a postal vote application.
Voting by Proxy
You can apply to appoint a proxy (someone to vote on your behalf if you are unable to go to the polling station).
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
To change or cancel an existing proxy vote, you must do so by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
Apply online to vote by proxy.
You can ask for a paper proxy application form from electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk or telephone 0300 373 0595.
The person you choose as your proxy must either vote at your allocated polling station, or they can apply to vote by post. They must apply to do so by 5pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026.
If you find out after 5pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026 that you cannot vote at your polling station for employment reasons, or you have a medical emergency, then you can apply for an emergency proxy up until 5pm on election day.
Find out more about voting by proxy.
Important dates
Deadline for registering to vote: Monday 20 April
Deadline to apply to vote by post: 5pm, Tuesday 21 April
Deadline to change or cancel a proxy vote: 5pm, Tuesday 21 April
Deadline to apply to vote by proxy: 5pm, Tuesday 28 April
Voting at a polling station: 7am to 10pm, Thursday 7 May