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.
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”.