Important information about the upcoming council elections

This year’s Bury Council elections will take place on Thursday 7 May – and residents are reminded of several key dates in the run-up to the poll.

Remember – if you are voting in person, you will need to bring photo ID to the polling booth (more details below).

Are you registered to vote?

The deadline for applying is midnight on Monday 20 April. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Want a postal vote?

The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

Want a proxy vote?

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote

Photo ID:

If you vote in person at a polling station, you will need to show identification which contains a photograph of you.

For further information about which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID

or call the helpline 0800 328 0280.

If you don’t have any of the photographic ID listed above, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate from the Government. To apply, go to https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

or call the helpline 0800 328 0280. Applications must be made by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

• At these elections, one third of the council’s 51 seats will be contested – one in each of Bury’s 17 wards.

The exception is in Moorside ward, where the election has been cancelled following the death of one of the candidates. The Moorside poll will be rescheduled to take place within 35 working days of 7 May.

All other wards across the borough are unaffected, and voters will go to the polls on Thursday 7 May as usual.

ENDS

Press release issued: 16 April 2026.