Residents reminded that they will need to show photo ID when attending their polling station for the local elections next month
Many Croydon residents will have already received their polling cards, with detailed information of where they can cast their votes in the local elections on Thursday, May 7.
If you have not yet received a polling card, or if you know you are not yet registered to vote, you still have time to register as a voter to have your say in who Croydon’s executive Mayor will be between now and 2030, and to elect up to three councillors for the area where you live.
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday, April 20.
According to Croydon Council: “Registering to vote is quick and easy – it only takes minutes.”
- The council’s guidance on who is eligible to vote can be found by clicking here
- Find out how to register to vote here
“Registered voters will receive two ballot papers, a white ballot paper for the Mayor of Croydon election and a yellow ballot paper for the ward councillor election,” the council says..
“Voters will be able to vote for one candidate only for the Mayor of Croydon. Voters will be able to vote for between one and three candidates in the council elections, depending on the ward they live in.”
This year, the election of the Mayor will be conducted on a first-past-the-post basis, with just a single vote for your choice of candidate.
In 2022, the Supplementary Vote system was used, allowing voters to have a first and a second choice of candidate, with the second choices being added to the voting tallies of the two leading contenders. This caused significant problems at the count, which eventually dragged on until Sunday lunchtime – three days after the polls had closed.
This year, the counts will be held at the Fairfield Halls, with the mayoral election count being conducted on Friday, May 8, while the election of 70 councillors across 28 wards will not begin until the morning of Saturday, May 9.
Importantly, all voters at the elections must bring photo ID with them to their polling station. This is a new, legal requirement for all UK elections following the Elections Act of 2022. Find out what photo ID is accepted by clicking here.
- Croydon Council’s electoral services helpline is: 0300 373 0595
- Or email: electoral.services@croydon.gov.uk
- Or visit their webpage: www.croydon.gov.uk/elections for more information
For more information on where to vote on May 7 and who is standing for election, use our widget here:
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2026, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for an EIGHTH time in nine years, in Private Eye magazine’s annual round-up of civic cock-ups
- Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
Whether you’ve decided who to vote for already or not you need to be on the register.
And remember the separate deadlines in place if you want a postal vote or to appoint a proxy if you’re not able to visit your appointed polling station on election day.