Oldham local elections 2026: What you need to know

Oldham residents will head to the polls on May 7 to elect new councillors in what's being called the biggest local election test for political parties in three years. All 20 wards across the borough will be voting, with one councillor per ward up for election-that's 20 seats out of the council's 60 total. The current council makeup shows Labour holding 27 seats, but with nearly half the council facing election, the balance of power could shift significantly.

If you haven't registered to vote yet, time is running out. The deadline is Monday, April 20-and it only takes about five minutes online. For those who prefer to vote by post or appoint someone to vote on their behalf, you've got until April 21 for postal votes and April 28 for proxy voting.

The stakes are high this year. Labour is defending 2,557 seats nationally, while the Conservatives are defending 1,362. But locally, it's about who will represent your ward for the next four years.