Ed Whiting urges turnout in Leeds Local Elections 2026 for 36 seats
Voters across Leeds took part in leeds local elections 2026 on Thursday 7 May, with polling stations open from 7am to 10pm. Thirty-six councillors were being chosen for Leeds City Council, and Ed Whiting urged registered voters to have their say.
Whiting, the returning officer and chief executive of Leeds City Council, said: "Election day is here on Thursday so we would encourage everyone registered to get involved and have their say." He also reminded in-person voters to bring accepted photo ID, saying: "For everyone intending to vote in person at a polling station please remember to take an accepted form of photo ID with you, as without it you will not be allowed to vote."
Leeds City Council count
Counting took place at the John Charles Centre for Sport on Friday 8 May, when results were declared and posted on the council’s website and X account at @LeedsCC_News. The election covered one councillor in each of Leeds’ 33 ward areas, with additional contests in Adel and Wharfedale, Morley North and Temple Newsam.
In those three wards, the winner and the second-placed candidate secured places on the council. That left the city with 36 councillors elected across the full vote, rather than a single winner in every contest.
Postal votes at Leeds Civic Hall
Whiting also addressed postal voters, saying: "Any postal voters who have not yet received their voting pack need to contact us urgently please, and for everyone voting, please remember that your vote is yours alone to decide." Postal votes could only be handed in at a polling station or at the electoral services office at Leeds Civic Hall, LS1 1UR; no other council offices could accept them.
Replacement postal ballot packs could be issued up to 5pm on polling day, and the Leeds elections team could be contacted on 0113 222 4411 or electors@. For anyone voting in person, the practical step was simple: bring accepted photo ID, or use expired ID if the voter is still recognisable from the photo.
Friday 8 May Results
Whiting said: "We look forward to election day in Leeds followed by the count and results on Friday." For Leeds voters, the vote itself ended at 10pm on Thursday, and the next published updates came through the council’s results channels once counting finished at the John Charles Centre for Sport.
