‘Flexible voting’ may be an option for Hounslow voters at the next local elections

Chiswick Town Hall – one of four proposed venues around the borough of Hounslow proposed as venues for early voting

Vote on Thursday 7 May 2026 in the local elections – or possibly over the previous weekend

Leader of Hounslow Council, Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, is proposing the Council tries out flexible voting at the next local elections, to make the process of voting more convenient for residents.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has asked local authorities for their proposals for flexible voting, and if they are chosen to take part in the pilot scheme, their proposal will be tried out next year.

Polling day is Thursday 7 May 2026, but traditional Thursday voting does not suit everyone, so Cllr Rajawat is suggesting four locations around the borough, one of which would be Chiswick Town Hall, where voters would be able to go and vote during the weekend before polling day, as an alternative to voting on the Thursday.

The arrangements for voting on the main polling day will remain the same as usual.

He is also suggesting the option of a mobile polling station, route and stopping points yet to be decided, which would tour around the borough.

This, he hopes, will increase voter convenience and satisfaction.

Cllr Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of Hounslow Borough Council

‘These options will offer residents greater choice and convenience, helping them to participate in elections in a way that fits more easily into their daily lives’.

The borough of Hounslow is home to a diverse population of 299,000 residents, and an electorate of 201,000.

‘This includes communities that may face barriers to participation’, he says, ‘such as disabled residents and those with limited mobility. Our pilot will be developed with a strong focus on inclusivity, ensuring that flexible voting methods are accessible to all and actively support and encourage wider democratic participation’.

One of the things they have found in their research is that at the Cranford by-election last month, 56% of all votes were cast between 5pm and 9pm, compared to just 31% cast between 7am and 2pm, which they think indicates a clear preference among voters for evening voting, particularly after standard working hours on a weekday.

‘Traditional Thursday elections in the UK can present barriers for individuals with weekday commitments, such as work, education, or caring responsibilities’, writes Cllr Rajawat.

His proposal for early voting is that voters could go to Hounslow House, Chiswick Town Hall, Feltham Assembly Hall or Brabazon Community Centre, or to the mobile station, which may visit care homes for example, and colleges, on Friday 1 May between 4 and 9pm, on Saturday 2 May between 9am and 4pm, or Sunday 3 May between 9am and 4pm.

‘International evidence supports this approach. Many countries that hold elections on weekends report higher turnout rates, with studies suggesting an increase of between 6% and 10% when voting is made available outside standard weekday hours’.

The Chiswick Calendar spoke to Benedict Pringle, an expert on elections and voting, and founder of PoliticalAdvertising.co.uk

He said: “As long as people know they don’t have to vote early, I think it’s a good thing. I vote by post because I hate missing elections, and you can’t always anticipate what you will be doing on the day, but I do like voting in person, it’s annoying to have to vote by post, so to get flexibility is a good thing”.

The proposal will be considered at the Borough Council meeting next Tuesday (16 September) and if accepted, will be sent to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government for their consideration.

“There is no guarantee they will accept it”, Cllr Rajawat told The Chiswick Calendar.

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