Green Party leader Zack Polanski admits he did not vote in local elections

Zack Polanski has admitted that he did not vote in last week's local elections - as he was not registered.

The Green Party leader's spokesperson told Sky News the day before the elections that he had postal voted in Hackney so that he could visit Wales to campaign there on polling day.

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Mr Polanski publicly told the east London borough's Green candidate Zoe Garbett: "You have my vote."

However, it has now emerged he had never registered to vote - and did not postal vote.

A Green Party spokesperson said there had been some miscommunication in the melee of the elections.

They said he did not register to vote as he was in the process of moving from a houseboat to a shared house, and "fell short of time" to register at his new accommodation.

He also needed more time to register anonymously over security concerns regarding antisemitism and homophobic abuse, they said.

Mr Polanski admitted earlier this week he had failed to pay council tax while living on the houseboat. He apologised for the "unintentional mistake", and said he had taken immediate steps to pay any council tax he owed.

The Green leader initially said he only stayed on the boat "occasionally", and rented a room at another address where council tax was included in the rent.

However, an advert seen by The Times for the sale of the boat posted by his partner said: "We are moving to a house and so will sadly be leaving the gorgeous community behind."

The Green Party said he had lived on the houseboat for just under four years, and that came with "unconventional practical considerations, including whether council tax is included in mooring fees".

They added that Mr Polanski is now in "active conversations" with the police and local authorities about registering to vote anonymously to protect him, as he does not get that from being a London Assembly member or a party leader.

A Green Party spokesperson told Sky News: "Zack was unable to vote. He was in the process of moving, and when that fell through, he moved in as a lodger in rented accommodation.

"He fell short of time to register at the new place, especially given the extra process he would need to go through to register anonymously.

"Zack has recently had increased security concerns after being the target of antisemitic and homophobic abuse."

(c) Sky News 2026: Green Party leader Zack Polanski admits he did not vote in local elections