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| Local elections 2024: When and where are they, and who can vote? | Local elections 2024: When and where are they, and who can vote? |
| (10 days later) | |
| Voters in parts of England will elect councillors and mayors on 2 May. | Voters in parts of England will elect councillors and mayors on 2 May. |
| These are the last local elections before the next general election. | These are the last local elections before the next general election. |
| Which elections are taking place on 2 May? | Which elections are taking place on 2 May? |
| Elections are taking place in 107 local authorities across England. | Elections are taking place in 107 local authorities across England. |
| Voters will also choose the Mayor of London, London Assembly members and 10 mayors outside the capital. | Voters will also choose the Mayor of London, London Assembly members and 10 mayors outside the capital. |
| In addition, voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs). | In addition, voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs). |
| A by-election will select the new MP for Blackpool South, after the resignation of former Conservative MP Scott Benton. | |
| No elections are taking place in Scotland or Northern Ireland. | No elections are taking place in Scotland or Northern Ireland. |
| Watch: Harry Farley explains the changes to make sure you don't get caught out on polling day. | |
| Watch: Harry Farley explains the changes to make sure you don't get caught out on polling day. | |
| How can I vote in the May elections? | How can I vote in the May elections? |
| There are three ways to vote: | There are three ways to vote: |
| in person at your local polling station | in person at your local polling station |
| by postal vote | by postal vote |
| by nominating a proxy - someone to vote on your behalf | by nominating a proxy - someone to vote on your behalf |
| Voters must be: | Voters 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 |
| Voters in some areas will have several ballot papers, for the different elections taking place. | Voters in some areas will have several ballot papers, for the different elections taking place. |
| In council elections, voters generally have one vote for each available seat in an election area - known as a ward or division. However, some large wards have several seats. | In council elections, voters generally have one vote for each available seat in an election area - known as a ward or division. However, some large wards have several seats. |
| As in a general election, whoever receives the most votes wins. | As in a general election, whoever receives the most votes wins. |
| For the first time, mayors and PCCs will also be elected under the first-past-the-post system. | |
| Can I take a selfie at a polling station? | Can I take a selfie at a polling station? |
| What are the deadlines to request a postal or proxy vote? | |
| The deadline to register to vote in the May elections in England and Wales has passed. | |
| If you are already registered, the deadline to request a postal vote is 17:00 BST on Wednesday 17 April. | |
| If you are already registered, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 17:00 on Wednesday 24 April. | If you are already registered, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 17:00 on Wednesday 24 April. |
| The rules about voting by proxy have changed. If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, it has expired, and you must apply for a new one. | The rules about voting by proxy have changed. If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, it has expired, and you must apply for a new one. |
| Will I need ID to vote? | Will I need ID to vote? |
| Voters will need to show photo ID in order to vote in person. You do not need your polling card. | Voters will need to show photo ID in order to vote in person. You do not need your polling card. |
| There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports and driving licences. | There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports and driving licences. |
| Anyone registered to vote without the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate before 17:00 on Wednesday 24 April. | |
| Why do you now need photo ID to vote? | Why do you now need photo ID to vote? |
| What do local councils do and why do local elections matter? | What do local councils do and why do local elections matter? |
| 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 |
| fixing potholes on some roads | fixing potholes on some roads |
| collecting rubbish | collecting rubbish |
| Many councils are facing a funding crisis, and have put up council tax and cut services as a result. | Many councils are facing a funding crisis, and have put up council tax and cut services as a result. |
| Anger over this may be reflected at the ballot box. | Anger over this may be reflected at the ballot box. |
| Four English councils declared themselves effectively bankrupt in 2023 - including the country's largest authority, Birmingham. | Four English councils declared themselves effectively bankrupt in 2023 - including the country's largest authority, Birmingham. |
| A fifth of English councils say they are in danger of going bankrupt, according to the Local Government Association. | A fifth of English councils say they are in danger of going bankrupt, according to the Local Government Association. |
| The crisis follows long-term cuts to local government funding dating back to 2010. | The crisis follows long-term cuts to local government funding dating back to 2010. |
| These elections may also be the last big test of the current Westminster government's popularity before the next general election, which must take place by 28 January 2025. | These elections may also be the last big test of the current Westminster government's popularity before the next general election, which must take place by 28 January 2025. |
| Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? | Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? |
| Vital services or financial ruin? England's town hall dilemma | Vital services or financial ruin? England's town hall dilemma |
| What happened last time elections were held in these council areas? | What happened last time elections were held in these council areas? |
| Most of these council seats were last contested in May 2021, after the 2020 elections were postponed because of the pandemic. | |
| Voting took place alongside other elections which were already scheduled. | Voting took place alongside other elections which were already scheduled. |
| The Conservatives made significant gains and ended 235 seats up, with Labour 327 seats down. | The Conservatives made significant gains and ended 235 seats up, with Labour 327 seats down. |
| On the same day, the Tories took Hartlepool from Labour in a parliamentary by-election. | On the same day, the Tories took Hartlepool from Labour in a parliamentary by-election. |
| What do mayors do and where are mayoral elections taking place? | What do mayors do and where are mayoral elections taking place? |
| The London Mayor represents the 8.9 million people living across the city and has a budget of £20.4bn. | The London Mayor represents the 8.9 million people living across the city and has a budget of £20.4bn. |
| The mayor is responsible for Transport for London (TfL) and has some control over roads, policing and housing in the capital. | The mayor is responsible for Transport for London (TfL) and has some control over roads, policing and housing in the capital. |
| Outside London, mayoral elections are also taking place in nine "metro" areas across England. | Outside London, mayoral elections are also taking place in nine "metro" areas across England. |
| The West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley already have mayors. | The West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Tees Valley already have mayors. |
| For the first time, mayors will also be chosen in the East Midlands, the North East, and York and North Yorkshire. | For the first time, mayors will also be chosen in the East Midlands, the North East, and York and North Yorkshire. |
| Metro mayors set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing and transport. | Metro mayors set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing and transport. |
| If you include the London mayor, they control about £25bn, covering 44% of the population in England. | |
| Voters will also choose the mayor of Salford, the directly-elected leader of the city council. | Voters will also choose the mayor of Salford, the directly-elected leader of the city council. |
| What do PCCs do? | |
| Elections for 37 PCCs are taking place across England and Wales - although not in London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire where the mayor performs this role. | |
| PCCs were introduced in 2012 to replace police authorities, and were intended to make police forces more accountable and responsive to their local community. | |
| They help ensure that police forces function effectively, but do not directly run those forces. PCCs appoint chief constables and can dismiss them, if required. | |
| Some PCCs also oversee local fire services. | |
| What do police and crime commissioners do? | |
| How are police commissioners held to account? | How are police commissioners held to account? |
| When will the May election results be known? | When will the May election results be known? |
| Many local election results will be announced overnight into Friday 3 May, with more expected to follow throughout the day, and a few to be announced over the weekend. | Many local election results will be announced overnight into Friday 3 May, with more expected to follow throughout the day, and a few to be announced over the weekend. |
| Mayoral results will be declared on Friday and Saturday 4 May. | Mayoral results will be declared on Friday and Saturday 4 May. |
| The London Assembly elections will also be declared on Saturday. | The London Assembly elections will also be declared on Saturday. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | Wales |
| England and Wales Local Elections 2024 | |
| Mayor of London | Mayor of London |
| England | England |
| London Assembly | London Assembly |
| Local government | Local government |