Your Voice, Your Council, Vote Now
Voting to elect 69 members in the biggest ever election to your BMA UK council is now open with an unprecedented 247 candidates putting themselves forward to seek your support.
These elections are your opportunity to choose who you want to represent you and your profession on the BMA’s principal executive committee for the next three years.
Council members play an active role in representing you, your peers and the collective voice of colleagues from across the profession, ensuring they are heard, nationally, locally and in the workplace. The successful candidates will play a key role in influencing BMA policy and priorities, as well as shaping the voice of your Association for all members from 2026-29.
Because UK council is the Association’s principal executive committee we are required by law to conduct this election by a postal vote of BMA members.
Your voting pack
Play your part and have your say by checking the post for your voting pack. This was sent by Royal Mail to BMA members by our independent election scrutineer Civica Election Services (CES) when voting opened on 9 March and includes the candidates’ statements and voting paper. You should start receiving them later that week and the week beginning 16 March.
Remember once you have completed your voting paper don’t forget to return it in the pre-paid envelope. Voting papers need to be received by the Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES), The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW no later than 5pm on Monday 27 April 2026.
Read below to find out more and who is standing in the elections.
Who is standing in the elections?
247 candidates are seeking your vote for 69 voting seats. Each is directly elected by BMA members to give a geographical and branch of practice mix as well as five seats for ethnic minority members.
Voting members are elected according to the following categories:
- geographical constituency
- branch of practice
- ethnic minority.
A gender maxima constraint has been applied to larger constituencies so that not all members elected are of the same gender.
Read the candidates’ statements online.
Read below how seats are distributed across these categories.
Your geographical zone is your region/nation. It is determined by the division you are listed under at the time nominations open.
English regions:
- Eastern
- East Midlands
- North East
- North West
- South Central
- South East coast
- South West
- West Midlands
- Yorkshire
Each region has 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender.
- London - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 of the same gender.
Nations:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Each nation has 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender.
This is determined by the category of medical work in which, at the time the nominations open, you spend the majority of your remunerated medical time (except for medical students and retired members).
- Academics - 1 seat
- Armed forces - 1 seat
- Consultants - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- General practice - 4 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- Resident doctors - 5 seats, of which no more than 3 are of the same gender
- Medical students - 3 seats, of which no more than 2 are of the same gender. no more than 2 shall be elected from the same gender. The voting members elected in medical student branch of practice seats shall hold office for two years from the conclusion of the annual representative meeting in the year of their election until the conclusion of the annual representative meeting of the second year of their term of
office. - Occupational medicine - 1 seat
- Public health medicine - 1 seat
- Retired doctors - 1 seat
- SAS doctors - 2 seats
- Other - 1 seat
Ethnic minority – 5 seats
To stand in this election, you must be a BMA member and self-identify as Black, Asian and minority ethnic - no more than 3 seats to the same gender.
Who can vote?
All ordinary and medical student members of the British Medical Association can vote.
How do I vote?
For this election we are using single transferable vote (STV) for all seats. To make sure your votes are counted when casting your vote, do not put a cross against your chosen candidates. : Look at the candidates’ statements. You can view these in the booklet in the voting pack that was sent to you or online, make your choice and votes as follows:
- Write the figure 1 in the box next to the candidate that you most wish to be elected.
- Write the figure 2 next to your second most preferred candidate.
- Write the figure 3 next to your third preference
- Continue until you are unable to express a preference for any of the remaining candidates.
You may express as many or as few preferences as you wish, but do not write the same number
more than once.
Remember to return your completed voting paper in the prepaid envelope as soon as possible.
Watch our video on how to vote.
When does voting close?
Completed voting papers should be returned using the prepaid envelope in your ballot pack. Voting papers need to be received by the Independent Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES), The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW no later than 5pm on Monday 27 April 2026.
How will my vote be counted?
Your vote will be counted by the Independent Election Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES). The order of counting and allocation of seats will be as follows:
1 The Branch of Practice (BoP)
2 The “Geographical” region/nation
3 Ethnic minority (for members who self-identify as ethnic minority)
As candidates are elected in each election category they will be removed from the count and their votes redistributed.
Candidates could choose to opt out of either or both of the geographical or BoP election categories and to opt into the Ethnic minority election. You can check the status of each candidate on you voting paper and in the candidates’ statements booklet.
Remember to return your completed voting paper in the prepaid envelope as soon as possible.
I haven't received a voting pack. What do I do?
Clearly marked voting packs which include your voting paper and booklet of candidates’ statements were sent by Royal Mail to members’ addresses from Monday 9 March by our independent election scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES).
Members should have started received them later in the week beginning 9 March and throughout the week beginning 16 March.
If you are a BMA member and haven’t received your voting pack, check that your membership details are up to date and that the BMA has the right address for you. It may be that we have your work address or if you’re a student your home address as your primary address. If so, your voting pack will have been sent to this address. You can check your details online.
The last date for requesting a replacement voting pack is Wednesday 15 April. This will allow time for your details to be checked, the replacement pack sent to you and the return of your voting paper. This is also the last date for requests from members who joined the BMA after voting opened.
Please email Civica Election Services (CES) at [email protected] with your name, BMA ID number and address to arrange for a replacement to be sent to you.
Can I vote for a candidate standing in a different branch of practice to which I work?
Changes previously agreed by the BMA’s annual representative meeting to make voting simpler by listing all the candidates on one ballot paper, rather than several, means you are able to do so. Once voting is closed the Independent Election Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES) will allocate the elected seats and apply the relevant constraints by branch of practice first, geography (region/nation) second and ethnic minority (for those members who self-identify and have opted in to the ethnic minority section) third.
In making your choice we encourage you to refer to the candidates’ statements which detail the branch of practice and geographic seat a candidate is standing in, in addition to whether they have opted into the ethnic minority section.
Can I vote for a candidate standing for a different geographical seat to where I live?
Changes previously agreed by the BMA’s annual representative meeting to make voting simpler by listing all the candidates on one ballot paper, rather than several, means you are able to do so. Once voting is closed the Independent Election Scrutineer, Civica Election Services (CES) will allocate the elected seats and apply the relevant constraints by branch of practice first, geography (region/nation) second and ethnic minority (for those members who self-identify and have opted in to the ethnic minority section) third.
In making your choice we encourage you to refer to the candidates’ statements which detail the branch of practice and geographic seat a candidate is standing in, in addition to whether they have opted into the ethnic minority section.
Election timeline
Nominations open: 12 January 2026
Nominations close: 16 February 2026
Voting opens: 9 March 2026
Voting closes: 27 April 2026
Results
Results will be published on the website during the week commencing 27 April 2026.
Successful candidates
The newly elected members will serve a three-year term for the sessions 2026-27, 2027-28, 2028-29.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about UK council or the elections please email [email protected].