We hold elections to decide RCP clinical leaders and other key role holders. Please see the current opportunities, arrangements and supporting documents below.
Election arrangements 2026Contested elections 2026 - voting is now open
Voting in the contested elections for senior censor and vice president for education and training (VPET) and councillors is now open – until midday (BST) on Monday 30 March.
Please take time to access the election material of those standing either below or via the Civica Election Services (CES) voting platform. The CES platform is accessible to all RCP fellows, members and the general public.
Subscribing fellows and collegiate members in good standing are eligible to vote. Please look out for your bespoke communication containing the voting platform link and security codes to enable online voting. This was sent on 2 March 2026 by Civica Election Services (CES) from takepart@cesvotes.com (regular reminders will follow to those who have not yet voted). If you cannot find it, please check your junk folder, or contact MembershipQueries@rcp.ac.uk
Uncontested elections 2026
A single (two-person job share) nomination was received for the role of vice president for Wales (VPW). Council agreed that those nominated, Professor Samuel Rice and Dr Ben Thomas, would be elected unopposed – to begin tenure as soon as possible.
An uncontested presidential election will take place as part of College Day on 30 March 2026. The incumbent president Professor Mumtaz Patel was the only fellow nominated.
Find out more
Find out more about the roles and elections next steps, including the full timetable, below.
Fellows who are standing for election prepare election materials to share their vision and priorities to voters. Materials are viewable at the links above and voting will open on 2 March 2026. However, candidates and their supporters can start campaigning in line with guidance now.
The document links below provide full guidance to candidates and the electorate.
Please refer to the full election timeline below.
Election timeline
- 4 December 2025 Nominations open
- 6 January 2026 Nominations close
- 28 January 2026 Council to review nominations received and inform nominees of eligibility to stand.
- 6 February 2026 Deadline for submission of election material to the RCP by candidates.
- 16 February 2026 (provisional date) Public announcement of candidates in all elections – including access to candidates’ 500-word statement and photograph on the RCP website. Candidates and their supporters are prohibited from beginning canvassing before the announcement is made by the RCP.
- 2 March 2026 Voting opens, Civica Election Services (CES) to send voting invitation emails to all eligible voters. CES voting platform to include all candidate submitted election material.
- 30 March 2026 (College Day) Online voting closes at midday in all elections.
- 30/31 March 2026 Public announcement of election results
- ASAP after results Successful vice president candidates to take up office with a tenure until 31 July 2029. Council has approved a short extension to the usual 3-year tenure for these roles to cover business need and return elections to the recognised annual timetable.
- 1 August 2026 Successful councillor candidates to take up office with a tenure until 31 July 2029.