Notice of election – Reading

Election of councillors

Ward	Number of councillors to be elected
Abbey	One
Battle	One
Caversham	One
Caversham Heights	Two
Church	One
Coley	One
Emmer Green	One
Katesgrove	One
Kentwood	One
Norcot	One
Park	One
Redlands	One
Southcote	One
Thames	One
Tilehurst	One
Whitley	One

How to get nomination forms

Forms of nomination for Local Borough Elections may be obtained from the Electoral Services Office, Emmer Green Youth and Community Centre, St Barnabas Road, Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8LN from the Returning Officer who will, at the request of an elector for any electoral area prepare a nomination paper for signature.

Submitting nomination papers

Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer at the Electoral Services Office, Emmer Green Youth and Community Centre, St Barnabas Road, Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8LN on any day after the date of this notice, on Monday – Friday 10.00am – 4.00pm (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4.00pm on Thursday 9 April 2026.

Date of poll

If any election is contested the poll will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Register to vote

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Monday 20 April 2026. Register to vote online.

Postal and proxy votes

Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and amendments or cancellations of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2LU by 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2LU by 5.00pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

Voter authority certificate

Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026. Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online.

Applying for an emergency proxy vote

Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election on grounds of physical incapacity, for work/service reasons or the form of accepted photographic identification that you were intending to use to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, or has not yet been received if applied for recently must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 2LU by 5.00pm on Thursday 7 May 2026. The physical incapacity must have occurred after 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026. To apply on the grounds of work/service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.