Voting “Opens” in Nationwide AGM Election as Questions Remain for Scrutineer CES and Nationwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Voting has formally opened in Nationwide Building Society’s 2026 AGM election. However, questions remain regarding both ballot access and the administration of the election process.

10 JUNE 2026, LONDON – James Sherwin-Smith, the first Member Nominated Candidate to stand for Election to the Board of Nationwide Building Society in more than 20 years, has written both to Nationwide and to Civica Election Services (CES), the Society’s independent scrutineer, seeking information regarding the conduct of the election. Civica and Nationwide have thus far refused to answer his requests.

Nationwide has refused to explain to Mr Sherwin-Smith the legal basis for redacting a QR code and the words “Learn more at James4Nationwide.co.uk” from both the top and bottom of his Election Address.

His questions to Civica and Nationwide include:

• how the paper ballot has been designed;
• when all paper voting forms will be distributed;
• when all secure voting codes will be distributed so Members can vote online;
• what oversight and audit arrangements exist for the election;
• how proxy / representative voting will operate at volume;

Sherwin-Smith said:

“Nationwide says voting is open, but many Members are still waiting for the necessary material to cast their vote.”

“Further, Nationwide has deliberately removed key references from my Election Address without my permission or offering a legal or constitutional basis for their actions.”

“Members are being prevented from easily learning more information about my candidacy and views. 

“This is another example of why I am campaigning on a platform for great transparency and accountability.”

“Nationwide instead is engaging in dirty tricks: running down the clock to maximise the power of the Quick vote and withholding key election information from me and fellow Members of the Society.

“This election involves 9.3 million eligible Members and is the largest democratic exercise in the UK since Brexit.”

“Members deserve transparency not only about when they can vote, but also about how the election itself is being administered.”

“I wrote to Civica Election Services, the independent scrutineer responsible for overseeing the election, with a series of questions about the voting process and election oversight. CES declined to answer these.”

“The issue here is simple. Candidates and Members should have easy access to relevant information, including how the election works, how it is supervised and how their votes will be cast and independently counted.”

“My message is simple: DO NOT USE THE QUICK VOTE.”

“Given the unfair treatment I have received, I will be voting in protest AGAINST the Board’s candidates. I invite Members to consider doing the same.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Voting “opened” on Monday 8th June 2026, but many Members are reporting they are unable to vote, and are still awaiting the necessary materials
2. Voting online or by post closes on 13th July 2026
3. Members can vote at Nationwide’s virtual-only AGM on 15th July 2026 11am. ~400 people attended the AGM in 2025.
4. 9.3 million Members are eligible to vote in 2026. Last year 670,000 voted, i.e. turnout of less than 8%.
5. In 2025, 87% of voting Members chose to use the Quick Vote, giving their vote to the Chair as their authorised representative to vote in line with the Board’s recommendations.
6. In 2026, the Board recommends that Members not only vote for the Board Appointed Candidates, but also against Mr Sherwin-Smith, the first Member Nominated Candidate on the Nationwide ballot since 2005.
7. Members choosing to Quick Vote are voting Against Mr Sherwin-Smith.
8. Block voting mechanisms like the Quick Vote are prohibited by law in Trade Union Executive Elections. See Nav Mishra MP’s letter to the Chancellor:  https://james4nationwide.co.uk/navendu-mishra-mp-letter-to-the-chancellor/ 
9. Editing an Election Address is only permitted under the Building Societies Act (1986) in narrow circumstances. Nationwide has informed the FCA that is not relying on the provisions of Section 61(8)(a). It is therefore unclear on what legal basis Nationwide has redacted Mr Sherwin-Smith’s Election Address, removing a QR code and two references to “Learn more at James4Nationwide.co.uk”
10. The Society has added a two page warning at the front of Mr Sherwin-Smith’s Election Address, and a footnote at the end that reads:
    1.  “The word ‘registered’ replaced the word ‘regulated’ in the election address that Mr Sherwin-Smith had originally provided to the Group Society Secretary before the submission deadline. It was subsequently agreed with Mr Sherwin-Smith that he could submit a revised address correcting this error.”
    2. https://secure.cesvotes.com/V3-4-0/Download.ashx?file=/Member_nominated_leaflet.pdf 
11. The Society has not disclosed to Members that Mr Sherwin-Smith sought, and the Society refused, to add 18 words to the end of his address following the Board’s decisions not to recommend his candidacy and not to suspend the Quick Vote. After “please vote FOR James Sherwin-Smith” he wanted added:
    1. “, and AGAINST all other candidates given the use of the Quick Vote. DO NOT USE THE QUICK VOTE.”
    2. https://james4nationwide.co.uk/the-information-i-wanted-to-give-members-before-they-vote/ 
12. The Society has not disclosed to Members that it removed a QR code and references to Mr Sherwin-Smith’s website.
13. The Times reported the following Nationwide statement on 4th June 2026:
    1.  “The only change made to his election address, in agreement with Mr Sherwin-Smith, was a factual correction to his career history.”
    2. https://www.thetimes.com/business/companies-markets/article/nationwide-building-society-sherwin-smith-5x8kwgnh8 

CONTACT

• James Sherwin-Smith 
• WhatsApp: +44-7359-225-554
• Email: [email protected]