Voters in certain parts of England and Wales will be participating in local elections on 2 May. These elections are the last before the upcoming general election. Elections will be held in 107 local authorities across England, as well as for 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. There will be no elections in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
To be eligible to vote in the May elections, individuals must be 18 years or older, registered at an address in the area they wish to vote, a British, Irish, EU, or eligible Commonwealth citizen, and not legally excluded from voting. Some areas may have multiple ballot papers for different elections, so voters should follow instructions carefully.
Council elections typically allow one vote for each available seat in a ward or division, with the most votes determining the winner. Mayors and police commissioners will now be elected through the first-past-the-post system.
Registration to vote in person in England and Wales must be completed by 23:59 BST on Tuesday 16 April. Voters will need to show photo ID to vote in person, with 22 acceptable forms of ID including passports and driving licenses.
Local councils are responsible for various public services like care for the elderly, road maintenance, and waste collection. Many councils are facing funding challenges, resulting in increased council tax and reduced services.
Mayoral elections will take place in nine metro areas across England, with metro mayors having powers over local economy, housing, transport, and skills. Police and crime commissioners oversee local police forces and fire services in 37 areas of England and Wales.
Results from the May elections will be announced overnight into Friday 3 May, with some mayoral results possibly delayed until Saturday. The last elections in these council areas took place in May 2021, where the Conservative party made significant gains.
