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| Local elections 2023: When are they and who can vote? | Local elections 2023: When are they and who can vote? |
| (2 days later) | |
| Voters in some parts of England and Northern Ireland will choose new councillors in May. | Voters in some parts of England and Northern Ireland will choose new councillors in May. |
| The deadline for registering to vote in England has now passed. | |
| In Northern Ireland, the deadline to register to vote by post or proxy is 26 April, or 28 April to vote in person. | In Northern Ireland, the deadline to register to vote by post or proxy is 26 April, or 28 April to vote in person. |
| Where and when are elections taking place? | Where and when are elections taking place? |
| On 4 May, more than 8,000 seats will be contested at 230 councils across England. | On 4 May, more than 8,000 seats will be contested at 230 councils across England. |
| Mayoral elections are also taking place in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough. | Mayoral elections are also taking place in Bedford, Leicester, Mansfield and Middlesbrough. |
| In Northern Ireland, 11 council elections are being held on 18 May. | In Northern Ireland, 11 council elections are being held on 18 May. |
| There are no elections in Scotland or Wales. | There are no elections in Scotland or Wales. |
| What to expect from May's local elections in England | What to expect from May's local elections in England |
| All you need to know about NI council elections | |
| How can I vote? | How can I vote? |
| in person at your polling station | in person at your polling station |
| by post | by post |
| by nominating a proxy to vote on your behalf | by nominating a proxy to vote on your behalf |
| You can find your polling station here. | You can find your polling station here. |
| Voters (and proxies) must be: | Voters (and proxies) must be: |
| aged 18 or over | aged 18 or over |
| registered at an address in the area where they want to vote | registered at an address in the area where they want to vote |
| a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizen | a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizen |
| not legally excluded from voting | not legally excluded from voting |
| Rules vary so voters should read their ballot paper carefully. | Rules vary so voters should read their ballot paper carefully. |
| Voters usually have one vote for each available seat in an election area (known as a ward or division). Large wards may have several seats. | Voters usually have one vote for each available seat in an election area (known as a ward or division). Large wards may have several seats. |
| Whoever receives the most votes wins. | Whoever receives the most votes wins. |
| Northern Ireland uses the single transferable vote (STV) system - where voters rank candidates in order of preference. | Northern Ireland uses the single transferable vote (STV) system - where voters rank candidates in order of preference. |
| When do I need to register to vote by? | When do I need to register to vote by? |
| In England the deadlines to register to vote in person, by proxy or by post have passed. | |
| If you missed the deadline to nominate a proxy but then find you can't vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote before 17:00 on polling day. | |
| In Northern Ireland, the deadline to register to vote by post or proxy is 17:00 BST on 26 April; to vote in person you must register by 23:59 BST on 28 April. | In Northern Ireland, the deadline to register to vote by post or proxy is 17:00 BST on 26 April; to vote in person you must register by 23:59 BST on 28 April. |
| Electoral Commission: Register to vote | Electoral Commission: Register to vote |
| Will I need to bring ID to vote? | Will I need to bring ID to vote? |
| From 4 May 2023, voters in England must show photo ID to vote in person. You do not need to bring your poll card. | From 4 May 2023, voters in England must show photo ID to vote in person. You do not need to bring your poll card. |
| There are 22 forms of valid ID including: | There are 22 forms of valid ID including: |
| passports | passports |
| driving licences | driving licences |
| Older or Disabled Person's bus passes | Older or Disabled Person's bus passes |
| Oyster 60+ cards | Oyster 60+ cards |
| You can use out-of-date ID as long as you look the same. | You can use out-of-date ID as long as you look the same. |
| The estimated two million people without the right ID can sign up for a free Voter Authority Certificate. Applications close on 25 April at 17:00 BST, but you must already have applied to vote in person. | The estimated two million people without the right ID can sign up for a free Voter Authority Certificate. Applications close on 25 April at 17:00 BST, but you must already have applied to vote in person. |
| However, government data shows that 71,576 people had applied by 19 April. | |
| Voter ID has been required in Northern Ireland since 2003. | Voter ID has been required in Northern Ireland since 2003. |
| Voter ID could overwhelm staff, councils warn | Voter ID could overwhelm staff, councils warn |
| Watch: Ione Wells explains the new rules for voting in England, in a minute | Watch: Ione Wells explains the new rules for voting in England, in a minute |
| Watch: Ione Wells explains the new rules for voting in England, in a minute | Watch: Ione Wells explains the new rules for voting in England, in a minute |
| Can I bring my pet or my children? | Can I bring my pet or my children? |
| Animals - apart from assistance dogs - are not usually allowed in polling stations. | Animals - apart from assistance dogs - are not usually allowed in polling stations. |
| However, other dogs can be admitted at the discretion of the local authority. | However, other dogs can be admitted at the discretion of the local authority. |
| Voters are encouraged to bring children to polling stations to educate them about democracy - but they must not mark the ballot paper. | Voters are encouraged to bring children to polling stations to educate them about democracy - but they must not mark the ballot paper. |
| What can and can't I do in a polling station? | What can and can't I do in a polling station? |
| What do local councils do? | What do local councils do? |
| Local councils are responsible for many public services, including: | Local councils are responsible for many public services, including: |
| providing care for the elderly and disabled | providing care for the elderly and disabled |
| schools | schools |
| fixing potholes on some roads | fixing potholes on some roads |
| collecting rubbish | collecting rubbish |
| In Northern Ireland councils have fewer responsibilities. They do not run education, road-building or housing, but do collect taxes and maintain some local services. | |
| What is council tax and how much is it rising? | What is council tax and how much is it rising? |
| Why do these elections matter? | Why do these elections matter? |
| They decide who is in charge of local public services - and how they are run. | They decide who is in charge of local public services - and how they are run. |
| Local issues, such as contentious planning decisions, the state of roads or rubbish collection, often decide council elections. | Local issues, such as contentious planning decisions, the state of roads or rubbish collection, often decide council elections. |
| Many services provided by councils have been disrupted by recent strikes. | Many services provided by councils have been disrupted by recent strikes. |
| Councils have seen long-term cuts to local government funding dating back to 2010, which followed the global financial crisis. | Councils have seen long-term cuts to local government funding dating back to 2010, which followed the global financial crisis. |
| Rubbish collection is often an important local election topic | Rubbish collection is often an important local election topic |
| These elections could also be the last big test of the current Westminster government's popularity ahead of the next general election, expected in 2024. | These elections could also be the last big test of the current Westminster government's popularity ahead of the next general election, expected in 2024. |
| The last time these council seats were contested, in May 2019, the Conservatives lost more than 1,300 seats. Labour lost 82. | The last time these council seats were contested, in May 2019, the Conservatives lost more than 1,300 seats. Labour lost 82. |
| At the time, Theresa May was about to be replaced as prime minister by Boris Johnson. | At the time, Theresa May was about to be replaced as prime minister by Boris Johnson. |
| The Conservatives are currently trailing Labour by about 15 points in national voting polls. | The Conservatives are currently trailing Labour by about 15 points in national voting polls. |
| When will the results be known? | When will the results be known? |
| Results from more than 60 English councils are expected overnight, with the rest announced throughout the day on Friday 5 May. | Results from more than 60 English councils are expected overnight, with the rest announced throughout the day on Friday 5 May. |
| In Northern Ireland votes are not counted overnight so results will start coming in on 19 May. | In Northern Ireland votes are not counted overnight so results will start coming in on 19 May. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| England local elections 2023 | England local elections 2023 |
| Local government | Local government |