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Polls open across UK for Holyrood, Senedd and local elections

politicsMay 7, 202633293

Polling stations opened across Great Britain this morning as Scots vote in the Holyrood election, Welsh voters cast Senedd ballots, and millions face local elections in England, Scotland and Wales. Polling hours run from 7am until 10pm, and in Scotland voters do not need a polling card or photo ID; emergency proxy applications in Edinburgh close at 5pm and postal ballots can be returned in person until 10pm. Recent polls show the Scottish National Party leading the Holyrood race, and pro-independence parties are making a final push as the results will shape devolved government control and local services for the next term. In Kent, residents of one borough are voting in that council’s last scheduled in-person election ahead of local changes to the authority.

Sadiq Khan
@sadiqkhanlondon.bsky.social

Today is election day - and every vote matters. Across our city, Labour councils are delivering for Londoners every day - from building council homes to investment in local schools and opportunities for young Londoners. Polls are open until 10pm - remember photo ID. #DogsAtPollingStations

642h ago
Election Maps UK
@electionmaps.uk

🕖️ | Polls are now open for the 2026 Holyrood, Senedd, and English local elections. Polling stations will be open until 10pm. See where's up for election at: electionmaps.uk/le2026 electionmaps.uk/nowcast/holy... electionmaps.uk/nowcast/senedd

282h ago
Pop Base
@popbase.tv

Voting for the 2026 UK local elections takes place today across England. Scotland and Wales are also voting today, but for their respective parliaments.

33Just now
Birmingham Green Party
@brumgreens.bsky.social

Brum Green campaigners working hard to get the vote out up until the last second that the polls are open! #VoteGreenInBrum today!

221h ago
Leeds Green Party
@leedsgreenparty.bsky.social

Today’s the day, Leeds! If you want real change in Leeds, please vote Green today. Polls are open until 10pm. Don’t forget your photo ID. Let’s do this 💚

Today's the day - Vote Green - Let's do this Leeds! - Leeds Green Party
153h ago
Jane
@localnotail.bsky.social

Reform UK had to cold call people to get them to stand for their Potemkin Party meanwhile in Brum nice neighbours mobilise on our streets for the 101 Green Party candidates for no reward other than a better world for all our children dedicated doorknockers courageous canvassers #VoteHope #GoGreen💚

4 smiling people holding Vote Green signs in a terraced street in south central Birmingham (Balsall Heath East and Sparkbrook) one of them is the local candidate, the others are local volunteers who aren't necessarily party members, they just know them through their community activities
21Yesterday
The National
@scotnational.bsky.social

Pro-independence parties have made their final pitch to voters as polls open across the country for the Scottish elections ...🗳️

122h ago
Dr Kevin Guyan
@kevinguyan.bsky.social

The Scottish Parliament elections are tomorrow and there's a good chance Reform UK will become the second biggest party at Holyrood 🤮 Does this result matter? What went wrong for Scottish Labour? And does the outcome change anything for LGBTQ equalities in Scotland? kevinguyan.com/2026/04/29/r...

The creeping influence of right wing populism. Even if this election supercharges the tally of Reform MSPs from one defector to the high teens, it does not mark the arrival of right-wing populism in Scottish politics. That happened years ago. The Tories, particularly since the leadership of Douglas Ross (2020-24), have adopted an approach to politics where a return to the past is proposed as a radical blueprint for the future. The party's 2026 election slogan is 'common sense for a change', an apt example of how nostalgia for an imagined past is repackaged as a break from the status quo. Other parties have also courted right wing talking points in an effort to expand their political reach. Labour Leader Anas Sarwar, for example, has focused particular attention on the issue of transgender people housed in Scotland's prisons, an estimated 19 individuals. In a front page splash for the Daily Record, Sarwar promised to ban transgender women from female prisons within days if elected as First Minister. Scottish Labour, more generally, has highlighted the need to defend 'single-sex spaces for biological women in services, in sport and in everyday life'. Sarwar - perhaps to his credit – appears unsuited as a mouthpiece for this brand of 'protection politics' and has been accused of 'cynical opportunism' following his late-day conversion to the defence of 'biological women'.
7Yesterday
Daily Herald #FBPE #NAFO 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇬🇱
@dailyherald.bsky.social

Lucy Powell: "Polls are open! Vote Labour today 🌹"

91h ago
Jeff Smith MP
@jeffsmithmp.bsky.social

It’s polling day for the local elections 🗳️ Polls are open 7am-10pm, you don’t need your polling card to vote! Not sure where to vote? Find your polling station here wheredoivote.co.uk Use your vote for our excellent Labour candidates: jeffsmithmp.com/your-local-e... And remember your photo ID!🪪

62h ago
The City of Edinburgh Council
@edinburghcouncil.bsky.social

Edinburgh elects! 🗳️ Polls are open until 10pm this evening for the Scottish Parliament election. Emergency proxy vote applications can be made until 5pm. Postal vote ballots can be returned in person up until 10pm.

Polling place entrance sign.
61h ago
SpokesLothian
@spokes.org.uk

🙋 Thur 7 May #Holyrood2026 #SP26 Remember: 🤩 Free #Voi #BikeHire to polling station --> bsky.app/search?q=Voi... 👉 Manifesto analysis --> bsky.app/profile/spok... @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @magnatom.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social @helenrambler.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social

Graphic saying 'Vote - it matters'
3Yesterday
Mark Sewards MP
@markjsewards.bsky.social

🗳️Polls are open until 10pm! 🪪You need ID to vote 📮Postal votes can still be handed in at your polling station 📍Proud to support: 🌹Shamim Miah in Ardsley & Robin Hood 🌹 Charlotte Hill in Farnley & Wortley 🌹 Adrian Blake in Morley South 🌹 Jonny Kelsey & Edward Brown in Morley North

52h ago
Cara McKee
@caramckeegreens.bsky.social

Polls are open in Scotland. You don't need ID or your polling card, just pop along and place your votes. All across Scotland you can vote Scottish Greens on the peach ballot.

41h ago
George Adam
@georgeadam.bsky.social

The polls are now open and to build the Scotland we all want we need to vote for it. Representing our great town in our Parliament is an honour for me that I never take for granted. I’ll be out and about with #TeamPaisley today encouraging you all to vote. #VoteSNP #BothVotesSNP

43h ago
3 sources
deadlinenews.co.ukPolls open as Scots vote in Holyrood electionskentonline.co.ukPolls open in borough’s last ever electionthenational.scotPro-independence parties in final pitch to voters as polls open

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