Local Elections 2026: What Are We Voting For?

Polls are opening for the first Island-wide Isle of Wight Council elections since 2021.

Residents in 39 electoral divisions can have their say on who represents them at County Hall until May 2029, with finalised candidates including 30 independents and figures from several political parties.

Tomorrow’s elections had been postponed from May last year when three by-elections resulted in victories for Reform UK and independent Freshwater South candidate Becca Cameron.

Polls will be open from 7am to 10pm.

Voters will need an accepted form of photo ID such as a passport or photocard driving licence.

Polling cards confirming voting arrangements were delivered from March 23. For those voting in person, the polling card includes the address of an allocated polling station.

The Isle of Wight Council in context

The Isle of Wight Council is a local unitary authority with responsibilities such as planning, adult social care, education, housing, public health, recycling and waste, and roads, travel and parking.

It currently has 13 Conservative councillors, 11 Alliance members including two from the Green Party, four non-aligned independents and four Liberal Democrats. There are also three Empowering Islanders, two Very Broad Church independents, one Labour representative and another from Reform UK.

Island-wide local elections in May 2021 produced a council under no overall control, with 18 Conservatives, 15 independents, two Greens and one councillor each for Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Our Island and the Vectis Party. Some changes have taken place since then.

The local authority currently has a committee system of governance. This means more councillors are actively involved in decision-making, but it can take longer to reach decisions, according to the Local Government Association.

Committees each have an area of responsibility such as planning, environment and community safety or adult social care, public health and housing needs.

The council approved a new committee system constitution in May last year.

It previously had a cabinet decision-making model, where an elected leader appoints cabinet members with specific responsibilities.

Results from the election will be announced during the day tomorrow (Friday).