People in Oldham will vote in local council elections on Thursday 7 May 2026.
Oldham is split into 20 areas (called wards). Each ward has three councillors, but this time only one councillor per ward is being elected.
That means:
- 20 council seats are up for election.
- Each winning candidate will serve for four years.
How to vote
To vote, you must be registered.
- Register to vote by: Monday 20 April 2026
- Apply for a postal vote by: 5pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026
- Apply for a proxy vote (someone votes for you) by: 5pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026
You’ll receive a poll card in the week starting 30 March 2026. This tells you where to vote.
The official Notice of Election will be published on 30 March 2026.
Who can stand as a candidate?
To run for councillor in Oldham, you must:
- Be 18 or older
- Be a:
- British citizen
- Irish citizen
- Qualifying Commonwealth citizen
- Qualifying EU citizen
- EU citizen with retained rights
- And either:
- Be registered to vote in Oldham, or
- Have lived, worked, or owned/rented property in Oldham for at least one year
How to stand for election
- You must fill in and submit a nomination paper.
- It is your responsibility (and your agent’s) to make sure it is correct.
- If it is not submitted properly or on time, you cannot stand.
The Elections Team can check your forms informally before you officially submit them. It’s strongly recommended you book an appointment early, as slots fill up near the deadline.
- Email: election@oldham.gov.uk
Where and when to submit nomination papers
You must deliver them in person, by appointment only, to:
Between 10am and 4pm on:
- Tuesday 31 March 2026
- Wednesday 1 April 2026
- Thursday 2 April 2026
- Tuesday 7 April 2026
- Wednesday 8 April 2026
- Thursday 9 April 2026
The office will be closed on:
- Friday 3 April (Good Friday)
- Monday 6 April (Easter Monday)
Nomination packs (with guidance and forms) are available from the Elections Office by email or on paper.