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What to look out for in May's local elections Local elections: Where are the polls and how do I vote?
(3 days later)
On Thursday 2 May, voters will head to polling stations across England for local elections. On Thursday 2 May, voters will head to the polls across England for local elections.
There are 8,425 seats up for grabs in a total of 248 councils, including metropolitan, district and unitary authorities. The elections will decide who runs local authorities across the country and could be an important test of public and political opinion for Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn and the other party leaders.
What happened last time? What are the local elections?
In many cases, these seats were last contested in 2015, on the same day as that year's general election, in which the Conservatives won a majority in Parliament. A lot has changed since then, of course. There are 343 councils in England.
They provide a wide range of services, depending on their shape and size.
These include housing, road maintenance, parking, rubbish collection, leisure and cultural facilities, school funding and admissions, environmental health, planning and social services.
The largest local authorities are also responsible for adult social care and children's services.
Councillors are elected to sit on these councils and represent people in a specific geographical area for a fixed term of four years.
They decide on the overall direction of policy, which is implemented on a day-to-day basis by non-elected council officials.
Why are they happening/not happening in my area?
Elections take place in four-year cycles, with different councils holding elections in different years.
This time around, elections are taking place in 248 councils, with 8,425 seats up for grabs and about 25,000 people standing.
The vast majority of England's smaller district councils are holding elections. Nearly 120 of these are electing a full slate of councillors while a smaller number are choosing only a third.
There are 30 of England's larger unitary authorities, such as Bedford, Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar and Cleveland and York, which are electing all their councillors while a smaller number are choosing a third.
In addition, the majority of England's 36 metropolitan borough councils - including cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle Upon Tyne - are electing a third of their representatives.
There are no elections in England's 26 "shire" county councils or in London's 32 boroughs - although there is a by-election for a seat in Lewisham.
According to the Electoral Reform Society, there are about 150 wards where there is only one candidate who will be elected unopposed.
How do I vote?
If you are registered to vote, you will be able to take part in Thursday's elections.
If there is an election in your area, you should have already received a polling card, giving details of your nearest polling station.
You should take this with you when you go to vote, although in most places you will be able to vote without it. Polling stations open at 07.00 BST and close at 22.00 BST.
The deadline for registering has passed so if you are not on the electoral register, you will not be able to vote.
To find out whether you are registered, contact your local Electoral Registration Office via the gov.uk website.
If you live in certain parts of the country, you will need to take ID with you when you vote - as part of an ongoing government trial to tackle voter fraud.
In Broxtowe, Craven, Derby, North Kesteven and Braintree, voters will have to show either one piece of photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID. In Mid Sussex, Watford and North West Leicestershire, people will have to bring their polling cards or photo ID.
Voters in Pendle and Woking will only be able to show photo ID at the polling station to be given a ballot paper.
How is control of a council worked out?
Parties are said to run, or have control, of a council if they have more seats than all their opponents combined.
If no party has a majority, a council is said to be under no overall control.
Those parties with the most seats are referred to as being the largest party and can strike deals with others, such as independents, to run the local authority.
According to the Local Government Information Unit, citing House of Commons library figures, 56% of councils are currently under Tory control, Labour run 28% while the Lib Dems control 3%.
The remaining 12% are under no overall control.
Which are the councils to watch?
In most cases, these seats were last contested in 2015, on the same day as that year's general election, in which the Conservatives won a majority in Parliament. A lot has changed since then, of course.
The Conservatives are defending the largest number of seats, with 4,906 Tory councillors up for re-election, compared with 2,113 for Labour.The Conservatives are defending the largest number of seats, with 4,906 Tory councillors up for re-election, compared with 2,113 for Labour.
The Liberal Democrats have 647 seats to defend, UKIP 176 and the Green Party 71. There are also 512 seats held by independents being fought.The Liberal Democrats have 647 seats to defend, UKIP 176 and the Green Party 71. There are also 512 seats held by independents being fought.
Which are the councils to watch? There will be a battle royal in Brighton where, after a series of Labour defections and by-elections, the Conservatives are now the largest party. The Green Party - which used to run the council between 2011 and 2015 - is also looking to boost its presence.
There are no elections in London this year, but voters will be going to polls almost everywhere else. In Cheshire West and Chester the council is on a knife-edge with both Labour and the Conservatives fighting to be the largest party.
There are 30 unitary councils, including Bedford, Stoke-on-Trent, Redcar and Cleveland and York, which will be re-elected in their entirety.
There will be a battle royal in Brighton where, after a series of defections and by-elections, the Conservatives are now the largest party, having overtaken Labour.
All of the 54 seats are up for grabs and the Green Party - which used to run the council between 2011 and 2015 - is also looking to boost its presence.
In Cheshire West and Chester, with all seats to be voted on, the council is on a knife-edge with both Labour and the Conservatives fighting to be the largest party.
Milton Keynes, Bolton, Calderdale and Blackpool may also switch hands, or the ruling party could lose its majority and surrender overall control.Milton Keynes, Bolton, Calderdale and Blackpool may also switch hands, or the ruling party could lose its majority and surrender overall control.
A third of the council seats are up for grabs in Peterborough.
With a parliamentary by-election potentially on the horizon - a recall petition having been launched against sitting MP Fiona Onasanya - the local polls will give a good indication of the town's mood.
What impact will Brexit have?What impact will Brexit have?
Many voters will be motivated by purely local issues or what the political parties call "pavement politics", whether it is bin collections, parking or housing. Many voters will be motivated by purely local issues.
But Brexit is hard to ignore right now. But Brexit remains the dominant political subject and the polls will be a big test for Theresa May, who is under growing pressure from her MPs and activists angered by delays to the UK's departure from the EU.
The polls will be a big test for Theresa May, who is under growing pressure from her own MPs and local activists angered by delays to the UK's departure from the EU. Labour's performance, as ever, will be closely watched to see if it is making progress in those areas needed to win a general election.
Labour's performance will also be closely watched, and the extent to which it is able to appeal simultaneously to Remain and Leave voters in different parts of the country. The Lib Dems and Green Party will be hoping to do well on the back of their anti-Brexit, anti-austerity messages.
UKIP is fielding about 1,400 candidates, while the newly launched Brexit Party are focusing their attention on the European elections. UKIP is fielding about 1,400 candidates but the newly launched Brexit Party is focusing its attention on the European elections while new centrist party Change UK did not register in time to put up candidates.
On the other side of the Brexit argument, the new centrist party Change UK did not register in time to put up candidates for the local elections. When will we know the results?
This means that pro-Remain support, if it is an issue for local election voters, could work its way to Green Party and Liberal Democrat candidates. The race to be the first area to declare its result is not quite as intense as on general election night.
What about mayoral contests? But expect the first results to come in between midnight and 01.00 am on Friday, with St Helens, Sunderland, Swindon and North Tyneside among those vying to be the quickest.
There are six mayoral contests taking place, in Bedford, Copeland, Leicester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough and a Metro Mayor for North of Tyne. The busiest time is set to be between 02.00 and 04.00 BST, when results will start flooding in from across England, including Oldham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Stockport, Liverpool and Trafford.
Voter ID trials continuing However, some local authorities won't begin counting their votes until 09.00 am on Friday.
The government is continuing with its voter ID trials, which it says is part of an effort to reduce voter fraud and ensure vote security. Manchester is expected to declare at 15.00 BST, Brighton and York at 17.00 BST and Cheshire West and Chester at 19.00 BST.
Some councils will ask for photo ID, such as a driving licence. Some will ask for a mix of photo and non-photo ID, while some will accept polling cards. Are there any other elections taking place?
In Broxtowe, Craven, Derby, North Kesteven and Braintree, voters will have to show either one piece of photo ID or two forms of non-photo ID. In Mid Sussex, Watford and North West Leicestershire, people will have to bring their polling cards or photo ID. Yes, there are six mayoral contests taking place, in Bedford, Copeland, Leicester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough and a Metro Mayor for North of Tyne.
Voters in Pendle and Woking will only be able to show photo ID at the polling station to be given a ballot paper. East Staffordshire and Ribble Valley councils pulled out of the trial.
What about the rest of the UK?What about the rest of the UK?
Voters will be going to the polls in Northern Ireland to elect 462 councillors across 11 council areas. You can read more about the elections in this guide.Voters will be going to the polls in Northern Ireland to elect 462 councillors across 11 council areas. You can read more about the elections in this guide.
There are no local elections this year in Wales or Scotland.There are no local elections this year in Wales or Scotland.