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THIS year Sefton Council is undergoing significant electoral boundary changes that will come into effect.

These changes, implemented by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, aim to ensure electoral equality, meaning each of the 66 Councillors will represent roughly the same number of electors.

This will be the 1st time since 2004, all 66 Councillors are having to stand in what is called an:- "all out election."

The changes require this year's Local Election in Sefton to be an all out election. This will take place on:- Tuesday, 7 May 2026.

While the total number of Councillors (66) and Wards (22) remains the same, the boundaries for most Wards have been altered, and many Ward names have changed.

Key Changes and Confusing Aspects:-

Ward Name Changes - Many familiar Ward names are changing to better reflect local communities.

Molyneux becomes Aintree & Maghull South.

Church becomes Waterloo.

Derby becomes Bootle East.

Harington becomes Formby West.

Manor becomes Thornton and Hightown.

Netherton and Orrell becomes Netherton South and Orrell.

Park becomes Lydiate and Maghull West.

Ravenmeols becomes Formby East.

St Oswald becomes Netherton North.

Sudell becomes Maghull East.

Victoria becomes Great Crosby.

In the Northern part of Sefton the Ainsdale has seen a Boundary Shift... This has been very controversial as the change involves moving the Ainsdale Ward out of the Southport Parliamentary Constituency and into the Sefton Central Constituency, which has led to concerns about losing local ties.

According to Sefton Council, residents have also raised concerns about the division of other ommunities. Sefton Council explained:- "We have faced criticism about the changes, for example, the new:- Thornton & Hightown Ward changes have seen suggestions that the North Crosby part of the Ward has a much larger population than Hightown, and that the Ward should have been named differently."

So, what has stayed the same for hhe 2026 Local Elections in Sefton?

We are told that 3 wards will remain unchanged, while:- Molyneux changes name, but not boundaries. Southport Wards (outside of the Ainsdale shift) largely keep their names.

This All.Out Election in May 2026, will see Sefton Council marking a shift from the previous election by thirds system. That the Electoral Commission say are:- "designed to improve electoral fairness, but have resulted in a significant shift from established local political geography, causing confusion for voters."

To register for a postal vote please go to:- https://www.Gov.UK/apply-postal-vote. You must do this by:- 5 pm BST, on:- Tuesday, 21 April 2026. If you can not do this online, please call:- 03451400845.

To get information about who is standing and where your poling station will be, please visit:- https://Sefton.Gov.UK

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