Weekend and shopping centre voting to be trialled
These measures are being trialled in Milton Keynes, Cambridge, North Hertfordshire and Tunbridge Wells
Last updated 3rd Mar 2026
Some voters in the UK will soon be able to cast their ballots on weekends and in shopping centres as the Government trials new measures designed to modernise and simplify the voting process.
The pilot initiative, set to take place during the May local elections, will be carried out across four regions.
If successful, this could lead to the most significant change to voting procedures seen in over 150 years.
In Milton Keynes, voters will have the opportunity to cast their votes in the main Centre:MK shopping area.
In Cambridge, North Hertfordshire, and Tunbridge Wells, voters will have multiple days to vote in person, including weekends, at central locations such as Cambridge's Guildhall.
Encouraging Participation
The Government aims to make voting more convenient and to boost engagement through these trials, with potential roll-outs to other areas in future elections.
Local government minister Samantha Dixon said that the traditional voting method hasn't evolved with people's busy schedules.
"Our trials will make polling days more convenient and test out the first real changes for over 100 years, bringing our democracy into the 21st century," Dixon said.
Additional Measures and Challenges
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) also plans to test mobile voting stations that can travel to care homes and community centres.
Additionally, the pilot will consider allowing voters to use any polling station within a local authority.
However, weekend voting has been previously dismissed as impractical. In 2010, after a consultation found no substantial evidence of increased turnout and noted logistical complexities, the Labour government chose to maintain weekday polling.
Shadow local government secretary Sir James Cleverly has raised concerns about the transparency of the pilot schemes, suggesting they may benefit left-wing councils.
"The way Labour has handled election changes poses doubts about their commitment to democracy," Cleverly said.
Representation of the People Bill
Alongside the voting trials, MPs are slated to debate the Representation of the People Bill, which includes lowering the voting age to 16 and extending the franchise to an additional 1.7 million individuals.
The Conservatives have spoken against the Bill, citing risks to democracy and proposing a "reasoned amendment" to reject it.
Amongst other concerns, they argue the Bill could open doors to electoral fraud and insufficiently address foreign interference.