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| Q&A: Local elections | Q&A: Local elections |
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| After the excitement of the EU referendum in 2016, the general election in 2015 and the Scottish referendum in 2014 - 2017 is likely to be a lower-key affair. | After the excitement of the EU referendum in 2016, the general election in 2015 and the Scottish referendum in 2014 - 2017 is likely to be a lower-key affair. |
| But voters do get a chance to have their say when polls open on 4 May for this years' local government, council and mayoral elections. | But voters do get a chance to have their say when polls open on 4 May for this years' local government, council and mayoral elections. |
| Here's a guide to what's going on and where... | Here's a guide to what's going on and where... |
| When are the polls? | When are the polls? |
| Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. As is traditional in UK elections, they are being held on a Thursday again this year. | Voting will take place from 07:00 to 22:00 BST on 4 May. As is traditional in UK elections, they are being held on a Thursday again this year. |
| What are people voting for? | What are people voting for? |
| Elections will be held in 34 councils in England, all 32 councils in Scotland and all 22 councils in Wales on 4 May 2017. | |
| Click here for a full list of councils with elections in 2017. | Click here for a full list of councils with elections in 2017. |
| In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". | In addition, six areas in England are voting for newly-created "combined local authority mayors". |
| These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. | These mayors will mostly be responsible for economic development in their regions, but some will have powers over transport and housing. |
| Doncaster and North Tyneside are also electing local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. | Doncaster and North Tyneside are also electing local authority mayors, who are elected leaders of their respective councils. |
| The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman will also take place on 4 May. | The Manchester Gorton parliamentary by-election triggered by the death of Labour MP Gerald Kaufman will also take place on 4 May. |
| Who is standing? | Who is standing? |
| A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. | A total of 4,851 council seats are up for grabs across England, Wales and Scotland. |
| These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. | These figures are estimates because there have been boundary changes since they were last contested. |
| There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, which has four councillors. | There are also 687 independent councillors, with no party allegiances, whose seats are being contested. The rest of the total is made up of residents' association councillors and parties with a handful of representatives, including Cornish separatists Mebyon Kernow, which has four councillors. |
| What's at stake? | What's at stake? |
| Most of the seats in England were last contested in 2013 - the year of the great UKIP surge, which saw the anti-EU party break through in local government. It has not repeated this level of success in local elections since - can it hold on to the seats it gained? | Most of the seats in England were last contested in 2013 - the year of the great UKIP surge, which saw the anti-EU party break through in local government. It has not repeated this level of success in local elections since - can it hold on to the seats it gained? |
| In England, this is a year of county council elections - a traditional area of strength for the Conservatives. The party will be hoping to convert its national opinion poll lead into local success and is targeting Labour-held areas. The Lib Dems had a terrible night in 2013 - can they continue to claw back lost ground on the back of their opposition to Brexit? | In England, this is a year of county council elections - a traditional area of strength for the Conservatives. The party will be hoping to convert its national opinion poll lead into local success and is targeting Labour-held areas. The Lib Dems had a terrible night in 2013 - can they continue to claw back lost ground on the back of their opposition to Brexit? |
| In Scotland, these council elections were last contested in 2012, when the SNP won the most seats but Labour was not far behind. It was bad night for the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. If current opinion polls are anything to go by Labour can expect losses and the SNP and the Conservatives gains. | In Scotland, these council elections were last contested in 2012, when the SNP won the most seats but Labour was not far behind. It was bad night for the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. If current opinion polls are anything to go by Labour can expect losses and the SNP and the Conservatives gains. |
| Labour performed strongly when these Welsh seats were last contested in 2012 meaning they are at risk of losing ground this time - but who will be the main beneficiaries: Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives or the Lib Dems? UKIP, which did well at the 2016 Assembly elections, could be a dark horse. | Labour performed strongly when these Welsh seats were last contested in 2012 meaning they are at risk of losing ground this time - but who will be the main beneficiaries: Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives or the Lib Dems? UKIP, which did well at the 2016 Assembly elections, could be a dark horse. |
| When are we expecting the results? | When are we expecting the results? |
| Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 on 4 May. | Some English and Welsh councils will begin counting ballots as soon as polls close at 22:00 on 4 May. |
| Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. | Others will start counting on Friday morning, with results continuing all day Friday. |
| Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. | Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts on Friday morning, with first results expected from midday. |
| Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. | Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday. |
| Where can I watch the results? | Where can I watch the results? |
| There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and during special BBC news programmes. | There will be full live text and video coverage of the results as they come in on the BBC News website and during special BBC news programmes. |
| Who can vote? | Who can vote? |
| You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters must be registered by the deadline of midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. Anyone not already registered to vote at their current address can register online here. | You must be registered to vote, be at least 18 on polling day, be resident in Britain and be British or a Commonwealth or a European Union citizen. To take part in the polls, voters must be registered by the deadline of midnight on Thursday, 13 April if living in England or Wales, and by Monday, 17 April if living in Scotland. Anyone not already registered to vote at their current address can register online here. |
| Who is barred from voting? | Who is barred from voting? |
| Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption with in the past five years and people who are subject to any "legal incapacity" that impairs their judgement. | Convicted prisoners, anybody found guilty of election corruption with in the past five years and people who are subject to any "legal incapacity" that impairs their judgement. |
| How do I vote? | How do I vote? |
| If you are registered to vote you should receive a polling card any time up to the week of the elections, telling you where you should go to cast your vote on 4 May. You should take the card with you when you go to vote, although it is not compulsory. No other form of identity is required. If your polling card doesn't arrive, contact the electoral services department at your local council. | If you are registered to vote you should receive a polling card any time up to the week of the elections, telling you where you should go to cast your vote on 4 May. You should take the card with you when you go to vote, although it is not compulsory. No other form of identity is required. If your polling card doesn't arrive, contact the electoral services department at your local council. |
| Can I vote by post? | Can I vote by post? |
| Yes. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council is 17:00 BST on Tuesday, 18 April. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, on election day you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. | Yes. The deadline for asking for a postal vote from the electoral registration office at your local council is 17:00 BST on Tuesday, 18 April. If you have applied to vote by post, you cannot vote in person at the polling station. However, on election day you can return your postal vote to the polling station before 22:00 BST, or to the returning officer at your local council before they close if you do not want to post it or it is too late to post it. See the Electoral Commission's guidelines for postal voting. |
| What about proxy votes? | What about proxy votes? |
| You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy is 17:00 BST on Tuesday 25 April, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. | You can only apply for a long-term proxy vote if you have a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason - for example you will be on holiday or away owing to work. The deadline to vote by proxy is 17:00 BST on Tuesday 25 April, but if you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 BST on polling day. |
| I'm away from home at university on 4 May, where do I vote? | I'm away from home at university on 4 May, where do I vote? |
| As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. | As long as you are registered to vote in both places you can choose to vote at either your home address or your student address - or in both places if they are in different council areas. |
| What help is there for disabled voters? | What help is there for disabled voters? |
| To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. | To help blind and partially sighted voters, there has to be a "tactile device" in each polling station and there are rules on the size of print on ballot papers. The vast majority of polling stations are now more accessible for wheelchair users. Proxy ballots are allowed for those unable to vote because of disability. A doctor's note is required if the person with disabilities is applying for an indefinite proxy vote. |
| What happens if a voter is illiterate? | What happens if a voter is illiterate? |
| There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. | There is no literacy qualification for voting: anyone who cannot read or write can ask the polling officer at the polling station to mark their ballot, or have the candidates names read out, or take a companion to help them. |
| Is voting compulsory? | Is voting compulsory? |
| No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. | No. People cannot be forced to vote and registration is not compulsory. |
| Is my vote secret? | Is my vote secret? |
| Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. | Yes. The ballot papers contain a serial number and it is possible, but illegal, to trace all the votes to the people who cast them. The number is there to stop electoral fraud. |
| Why don't I have a vote this year? | Why don't I have a vote this year? |
| Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of our years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. | Not all councils hold elections at the same time. All councillors are elected for a term of our years, but the four-year cycle of elections is different for different councils. This year it is the turn of all the English county councils, who last had elections in 2013, and seven other authorities. Next year will see elections to all the London boroughs and some of the smaller district councils. There are also some councils who elect a third of councillors each year for three out of the four-year cycle. |
| What about mayoral elections? | What about mayoral elections? |
| Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. | Six new mayors are being elected to represent several regions of England. These mayors are being created as part of the government's drive to devolve more power to English regions. The mayors will serve and represent a number of local authorities in each region. Their exact powers vary according to the different agreements reached between local authorities and the government, but will mainly cover economic strategy, transport and planning. Local authority mayors are also being elected in Doncaster and North Tyneside. Mayors are elected using the Supplementary Vote system, which means voters choose first and second preferences for mayor. |
| Who can stand as a candidate? | Who can stand as a candidate? |
| Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. | Candidates must be aged 18 or over and either be British or citizens of other European Union or Commonwealth countries. In addition, those standing in English council elections must be on the electoral register of the council concerned or must have lived in or worked in the council area within the past year. Those banned from standing in the elections include anyone employed by the local authority, bankrupts and people in a variety of politically restricted jobs. The deadline has passed to register as a candidate for these elections. |
| How can I set up a political party? | How can I set up a political party? |
| All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. | All political parties have to be registered with the Electoral Commission if they want their names to appear on the ballot papers. The commission will need the names of three party officials and details of the party's financial structure. It can refuse to register a party if its name is confusingly similar to another party's or if the name is deemed offensive. The deadline has passed to register a political party for these elections. |
| Who organises the election? | Who organises the election? |
| The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. | The top official of the local authority is the returning officer for the elections in each constituency, with the day-to-day running of the poll left to the head of the council's electoral registration office. |
| Why are elections held on Thursdays? | Why are elections held on Thursdays? |
| They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. | They do not have to be - it is just convention. One theory about its origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote. The Electoral Commission has recommended trials of weekend voting to boost turnout. |
| Are there rules for the BBC's coverage? | Are there rules for the BBC's coverage? |
| Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines set down by the BBC Trust. They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. | Every part of the corporation has to follow election guidelines set down by the BBC Trust. They included advice on "appropriate" level of coverage to give to each of the political parties. |