Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment has the Electoral Commission made of the capacity of local authority EROs to organise council elections in May 2026 in the areas which were initially cancelled by the Government but have now been re-scheduled for May 2026; and what estimate has it made of the increased administrative costs from the cancellation and re-scheduling.

The Commission welcomed the certainty that all scheduled local elections will go ahead in May 2026. The Commission has contacted all affected local authorities to offer assistance and any additional support, working with them to address any immediate challenges.

Funding for the delivery of local elections is a matter for local authorities and Returning Officers, who would have made individual planning decisions regarding the funding to support the delivery of the polls.