The LLG Elections Conference 2026 is where local government professionals will come together to explore the key challenges, developments, and lessons shaping election law and practice in 2026 and beyond.
While the full agenda is yet to be confirmed, the conference will feature sessions covering a wide range of critical and emerging topics - they will include reflections and lessons learned from recent election cycles and their impact on future practice; abuse of staff and candidate behaviour; and the evolving role and responsibilities of the Returning Officer, with particular focus on the distinctions between Monitoring Officers and Chief Executives acting in this capacity. The programme will also examine voter ID pitfalls and practicalities, polling station safety and accessibility, and risk management for 2026 — including how to anticipate and avoid petitions or judicial review. Sessions will address digital campaigning and social media, tackling misinformation, regulation, and enforcement, as well as the challenges of election technology and data handling, covering cyber security, data protection, and related practical risks. The conference will conclude with a forward-looking discussion on the post-2026 landscape and how legal responsibilities and frameworks may continue to evolve.
The 2026 Conference will deliver a mix of expert sessions, delegate discussion, and practical guidance designed to help local authorities prepare for the next electoral cycle with confidence.
Further details, including confirmed speakers and programme structure will be announced soon.
Founded in 1987, the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) is the professional body representing the interests of electoral administrators in the United Kingdom, working independently of Governments. Peter has been employed as its Chief Executive since March 2018. Prior to joining the Association in April 2016, he worked for two London Boroughs and two district councils. He was also seconded to the Electoral Commission on two separate occasions to advise on guidance and law. Peter has given expert evidence to UK Parliament Select Committees, Members of the House of Lords, and Scottish Parliament and Senedd Committees, and advises the UK Governments on the safe and secure delivery of electoral processes.
Vivienne sits on the Planning and Environment Law Bar Association (PEBA) Committee and is ranked as a leading junior in planning, local government and public law. Her recent work includes acting for the successful authority in Darwall v Dartmoor National Park Authority [2025] UKSC 20 concerning recreational rights on Dartmoor, R (Waverley BC) v Elstead Parish Council [2024] EWHC 833 (Admin) concerning difficulties with a neighbourhood planning referendum, and R (Newham LBC) v HMRC [2024] EWHC 2321 (Admin) concerning CIL for floating hotels. She is described in Chambers & Partners as “A remarkable junior whose star is in the ascendant”.
Emyr is a Roll A Parliamentary Agent, authorised to promote and oppose private and hybrid bills in the Westminster Parliament.
He has over 15 years’ experience of drafting, promoting and opposing primary and secondary legislation, including drafting amendments to public legislation. He negotiates agreements and parliamentary assurances and undertakings and advises on parliamentary procedure. He also acts as an advocate before parliamentary committees in the Commons and the Lords.
Emyr has extensive experience of nationally significant infrastructure projects and regularly advises on all aspects of the development consent order regime, from the validity of pre-application consultations to special parliamentary procedure. Emyr also advises on compulsory purchase and on environmental, highways, and planning law.
Emyr is also acknowledged as an expert in electoral law and advises election administrators on the complex procedural requirements connected with running elections and referendums. He also acts for Returning Officers when the conduct an election is challenged and has been instructed by ROs in the most significant election cases of the past decade. Emyr advises non-aligned campaigning organisations on spending during election periods and has advised individuals and organisations who have been the subject of investigations by the Electoral Commission.
Emyr has, for a number of years, been recognised for his expertise in parliamentary agency and electoral law in both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Mark Heath has over 30 years of service within the public sector. He has acted for a variety of clients including local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, combined authorities and public authorities bodies or statutory bodies discharging public functions. He was, until December 2016, working at Southampton City Council where he was Solicitor to the Council (and Monitoring Officer) for 20 years. Subsequent to that, he held the positions of Director of Place and subsequently Chief Operating Officer at Southampton. Mark has also served as the Local Returning Officer at Southampton from 1994 until September 2024, held various regional returning officer roles during this time, served on several groups convened by Government and the Electoral Commission on electoral law, policy and practice and has undertaken various inquires and reviews into electoral issues across the UK as well as lecturing and writing on the topic.
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09:30 - 16:30
Online
