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2026 RCVS Council Election Now Open For Voting
19 hours ago 
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Voting has opened in the 2026 election for RCVS Council, the governing body of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), with veterinary surgeons being able to vote for up to three of the 15 candidates standing this year.
Voting emails were sent by Civica Election Services (CES), which runs the elections on behalf of the RCVS, on Wednesday 11 March. Each email contains a secure link to the voting website and pre-filled codes which are unique to each individual veterinary surgeon.
Voting emails for veterinary surgeons voting in the RCVS Council election will come from [email protected]
The recently amended RCVS Election Scheme means that the RCVS now holds online-only elections, rather than sending out paper ballots. The few veterinary surgeons for whom the RCVS holds no unique email address will be sent a voting instructions letter by post.
For the RCVS Council election, there are 15 candidates standing this year and veterinary surgeons can cast their votes for up to three of them by 5pm on Friday 24 April 2026. The candidates are:
- Dr Sharon Alston MRCVS
- Mr Ian Battersby FRCVS
- Dr Laura Davies MRCVS
- Mrs Ioana Dobre MRCVS
- Mrs Hannah Eastwood MRCVS
- Dr Viliam Hoferica MRCVS
- Dr Benjamin Kennedy MRCVS
- Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
- Dr Rachael McKinney MRCVS
- Miss Alison Price MRCVS
- Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS
- Dr Neil Smith FRCVS
- Dr David Tweedle MRCVS
- Dr Samantha Webster MRCVS
- Dr Lara Wilson MRCVS
The full biographies and statements for each candidate are available to read at: www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote26
Candidates were also given the opportunity to answer a question of their choice submitted by members of the profession. Answers to these questions can be found on individual candidate profiles.
The three candidates who receive the most votes will take up their four-year terms on RCVS Council at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 3 July 2026.
As well as the initial voting email, CES will also send regular reminder emails to those veterinary surgeons who have not yet voted in their respective elections.
Any veterinary surgeons who have not received their voting email should contact CES directly on [email protected] stating which election they are eligible to vote in.
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