Everything Formby Residents Need To Know About The Sefton Council Elections This May
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Everything Formby Residents Need To Know About The Sefton Council Elections This May.
Residents in Formby are being urged to prepare for an important local election taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026, when every seat on the council will be contested.
These are known as Whole Council Elections, meaning all 66 councillor positions across the borough will become vacant at the same time. This follows a major review of electoral boundaries and will directly impact how Formby is represented in the years ahead.
What this means for Formby
Formby will now be represented across two wards:
Formby East
Formby West
Each of these wards will elect three councillors, meaning six councillors in total will represent the Formby area.
This is part of wider changes across Sefton designed to ensure fairer representation, with each councillor representing a similar number of residents.
How the election works
Although three councillors are elected in each ward, they will not all serve the same length of time. This is because the council is resetting its election cycle following the boundary review.
The candidate with the highest number of votes will serve a four year term until May 2030
The candidate who comes second will serve a two year term until May 2028
The candidate who comes third will serve a one year term until May 2027
This staggered system ensures elections return to a regular cycle in future years.
Why boundaries have changed
The changes follow an independent review carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission, which looked at how communities like Formby are represented.
The aim is to make sure that:
Each councillor represents roughly the same number of people
Ward boundaries reflect local communities
The council can operate effectively
Across Sefton, most ward boundaries have changed, including in Formby, to better reflect population and community links.
Voting in Formby
If you are registered to vote, you will receive a poll card before election day telling you where your polling station is located.
Polling stations are usually open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night.
If you lose your poll card, you can still vote as long as you are registered.
When attending your polling station, you will be asked to confirm your name and address and must show photographic identification.
Photo ID is required
You must bring an accepted form of photo ID to vote in person.
Accepted forms include:
A passport
A driving licence, including provisional
A Blue Badge
A government funded older persons bus pass
A disabled persons bus pass
A PASS card with the official mark
A biometric immigration document
A Ministry of Defence identity card
Expired documents are still valid if the photograph remains a good likeness.
If you do not have any accepted ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate which can be used instead.
Why this election matters locally
With six councillors representing Formby across two wards, the outcome of this election will shape how local issues are handled.
Councillors play a key role in decisions affecting everyday life, including planning, local services, community safety and environmental matters.
This election gives residents the opportunity to choose who represents Formby during a period of change following the boundary review.
Opportunities to get involved
Residents can also take part by working at polling stations or helping count votes.
The elections team at Sefton Council regularly looks for reliable and enthusiastic people to support election day. It is a chance to play a direct role in democracy while earning extra income.
Find out more
For full details about the election, including ward boundaries, candidates, voting requirements and how to apply for ID, visit the official Sefton Council website:
With major changes affecting Formby and the wider borough, this is one of the most important local elections in recent years. Making sure you are informed and ready to vote will ensure your voice is heard.
Whole Council Elections 2026
Whole Council elections will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026. Whole Council elections take place following a review of the electoral boundaries. This means that all 66 seats on the Council will become vacant and new councillors will be elected.
Each of the 22 electoral wards will elect 3 councillors. The candidate who records the most votes will serve a 4-year term of office until May 2030. The candidate who records the second most number of votes will serve a 2-year term of office until May 2028.
The candidate who records the third most number of votes will serve a term of office of 1 year until May 2027.
Statement Of Persons Nominated
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