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| When and where are the May local elections and who can vote? | When and where are the May local elections and who can vote? |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Anyone who wants to vote in May's local elections must register before midnight on Friday. | |
| Voters in some parts of England will elect councillors and mayors on Thursday 1 May. | |
| These are the first local elections since the general election was held in July 2024. | |
| Which elections are taking place on 1 May? | Which elections are taking place on 1 May? |
| Elections are taking place in 23 councils across England. | Elections are taking place in 23 councils across England. |
| All seats will be contested in: | All seats will be contested in: |
| 14 county councils: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire | 14 county councils: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire |
| 8 unitary authorities: Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, County Durham, North Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire | 8 unitary authorities: Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, County Durham, North Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire |
| 1 metropolitan district: Doncaster | 1 metropolitan district: Doncaster |
| Six mayoral elections are also happening: in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North Tyneside, Doncaster and – for the first time – in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. | Six mayoral elections are also happening: in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North Tyneside, Doncaster and – for the first time – in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire. |
| In addition, council elections are taking place in the Isles of Scilly. | In addition, council elections are taking place in the Isles of Scilly. |
| On 5 February, the government announced that some local elections would not take place as planned. | On 5 February, the government announced that some local elections would not take place as planned. |
| Elections in East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey will be delayed until 2026 as part of a wider shake-up of local government. | Elections in East Sussex, West Sussex, Essex, Thurrock, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey will be delayed until 2026 as part of a wider shake-up of local government. |
| Voters in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency will also elect their new MP on 1 May. | Voters in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency will also elect their new MP on 1 May. |
| The former Labour MP Mike Amesbury announced he was standing down after his conviction for assaulting a constituent. | The former Labour MP Mike Amesbury announced he was standing down after his conviction for assaulting a constituent. |
| No routine elections are taking place in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. | No routine elections are taking place in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. |
| 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 on election day between 0700 BST and 2200 BST | in person at your local polling station on election day between 0700 BST and 2200 BST |
| 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 |
| To vote in local elections you must be: | To vote in local elections you must be: |
| aged 18 or over | aged 18 or over |
| registered at an address in the area where you want to vote | registered at an address in the area where you want to vote |
| a British or Irish citizen | a British or Irish citizen |
| an eligible Commonwealth citizen | an eligible Commonwealth citizen |
| a qualifying EU citizen - the rules vary according to which country you are from | a qualifying EU citizen - the rules vary according to which country you are from |
| Voters in some areas may have several ballot papers for the different elections taking place. | Voters in some areas may 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 general elections, whoever receives the most votes wins. If, for example, there are three seats available, then the top three candidates win. | As in general elections, whoever receives the most votes wins. If, for example, there are three seats available, then the top three candidates win. |
| Mayors are also elected under this system, known as first-past-the-post. | Mayors are also elected under this system, known as first-past-the-post. |
| EU citizens cannot vote in the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election. | EU citizens cannot vote in the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election. |
| Matt Chorley: Local elections might lack glamour - but they matter | |
| What is the deadline for registering to vote? | What is the deadline for registering to vote? |
| To vote in person in England and Wales, you must be on the electoral register by 23:59 BST on Friday 11 April 2025. | To vote in person in England and Wales, you must be on the electoral register by 23:59 BST on Friday 11 April 2025. |
| You can register online with your National Insurance number, or by writing to your council's electoral registration office. | You can register online with your National Insurance number, or by writing to your council's electoral registration office. |
| If you are already registered, the deadline to request a postal vote is 17:00 BST on Monday 14 April. | If you are already registered, the deadline to request a postal vote is 17:00 BST on Monday 14 April. |
| If you are already registered, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 17:00 BST on Wednesday 23 April. | If you are already registered, the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 17:00 BST on Wednesday 23 April. |
| The rules about postal voting have changed, and you now need to reapply every three years. Any postal vote which was set up before 31 October 2023 will expire on 31 January 2026. | The rules about postal voting have changed, and you now need to reapply every three years. Any postal vote which was set up before 31 October 2023 will expire on 31 January 2026. |
| The proxy rules have also changed. Proxy votes in place before 31 October 2023 have already expired, and you must apply for a new one. | The proxy rules have also changed. Proxy votes in place before 31 October 2023 have already expired, and you must apply for a new one. |
| Electoral Commission: Register to vote | Electoral Commission: Register to vote |
| Find your polling station | Find your polling station |
| What ID do I need to vote? | What ID do I need to vote? |
| You must show photo ID in order to vote in person. You do not need your polling card. | You must show photo ID in order to vote in person. You do not need your polling card. |
| There are more than 20 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licences and - from 1 May - Armed Forces Veteran Cards. | There are more than 20 acceptable forms of ID, including passports, driving licences and - from 1 May - Armed Forces Veteran Cards. |
| You can use out-of-date ID as long as you are still recognisable. | You can use out-of-date ID as long as you are still recognisable. |
| Anyone who is already registered to vote but doesn't have the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. | Anyone who is already registered to vote but doesn't have the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document known as a Voter Authority Certificate. |
| The deadline to apply for a certificate to use in the May elections is 17:00 BST on Wednesday 23 April. | The deadline to apply for a certificate to use in the May elections is 17:00 BST on Wednesday 23 April. |
| What photo ID will be accepted at the local elections? | What photo ID will be accepted at the local elections? |
| What can and can't I do in the polling station? | What can and can't I do in the polling station? |
| You must not take selfies or any other photographs inside a polling station. | You must not take selfies or any other photographs inside a polling station. |
| With the exception of assistance dogs, animals are not usually allowed in polling stations, but can be admitted at the discretion of the local authority. | With the exception of assistance dogs, animals are not usually allowed in polling stations, but can be admitted at the discretion of the local authority. |
| You are welcome to bring your children but they must not mark your vote on the ballot paper. | You are welcome to bring your children but they must not mark your vote on the ballot paper. |
| Writing implements are provided but you can bring your own pen or pencil. | Writing implements are provided but you can bring your own pen or pencil. |
| You can wear political clothing but you must not discuss any of the candidates inside the polling station. | You can wear political clothing but you must not discuss any of the candidates inside the polling station. |
| What are the rules about polling stations? | What are the rules about polling stations? |
| What happened in the 2024 local elections? | What happened in the 2024 local elections? |
| In the May 2024 local elections, when different councils were up for election, Labour won more than 1,000 of the 2,660 seats being contested. | In the May 2024 local elections, when different councils were up for election, Labour won more than 1,000 of the 2,660 seats being contested. |
| The Conservatives lost almost as many councillors as they held and ended up in third place behind the Liberal Democrats. | The Conservatives lost almost as many councillors as they held and ended up in third place behind the Liberal Democrats. |
| In total, 20 councils changed hands, with Labour gaining 10 and losing two. | In total, 20 councils changed hands, with Labour gaining 10 and losing two. |
| Labour also won nine out of the 10 mayoral contests, with the Conservatives winning the other. | Labour also won nine out of the 10 mayoral contests, with the Conservatives winning the other. |
| May 2024 local election results in maps and charts | May 2024 local election results in maps and charts |
| What do local councils do and why do local elections matter? | What do local councils do and why do local elections matter? |
| Different types of councils are responsible for a variety of local services. These include: | Different types of councils are responsible for a variety of local services. These include: |
| care for the elderly and disabled | care for the elderly and disabled |
| fixing potholes on some roads | fixing potholes on some roads |
| collecting rubbish and recycling | collecting rubbish and recycling |
| housing | housing |
| education | education |
| Many councils are facing a funding crisis, and have cut services. | Many councils are facing a funding crisis, and have cut services. |
| Voters in the May elections will have seen their council tax increase in April. | Voters in the May elections will have seen their council tax increase in April. |
| What is council tax and how much is it going up? | What is council tax and how much is it going up? |
| What do mayors do? | What do mayors do? |
| Six mayors will be elected on 1 May: | Six mayors will be elected on 1 May: |
| two single authority mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside | two single authority mayors in Doncaster and North Tyneside |
| four metro mayors in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire | four metro mayors in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire |
| A single authority mayor is the political leader of the council. They are responsible for delivering local council services. | A single authority mayor is the political leader of the council. They are responsible for delivering local council services. |
| Metro mayors are regional leaders who chair combined authorities, which are groups of several local councils. | Metro mayors are regional leaders who chair combined authorities, which are groups of several local councils. |
| They set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing and transport. | They set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing and transport. |
| Institute for Government: What is a metro mayor? | Institute for Government: What is a metro mayor? |
| How mayors became the fashionable new thing in England | How mayors became the fashionable new thing in England |
| When will the May election results be known? | When will the May election results be known? |
| Some local election results will be announced overnight into Friday 2 May, including three of the mayoral results. | Some local election results will be announced overnight into Friday 2 May, including three of the mayoral results. |
| Most of the council seats will be counted on Friday, and no results are expected over the weekend. | Most of the council seats will be counted on Friday, and no results are expected over the weekend. |
| It is not clear when the result of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election will be announced. At the general election in July 2024, the outcome was known fairly early - at around 02:25. | It is not clear when the result of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election will be announced. At the general election in July 2024, the outcome was known fairly early - at around 02:25. |
| How does the BBC report polling day? | How does the BBC report polling day? |
| Detailed BBC election guidelines are written and published for each election, setting out the approach it has to take on polling day. | Detailed BBC election guidelines are written and published for each election, setting out the approach it has to take on polling day. |
| The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or local election issues on TV, radio or online on polling day between 06:00 and 22:00, when voting closes. | The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or local election issues on TV, radio or online on polling day between 06:00 and 22:00, when voting closes. |
| While polls are open, it is a criminal offence to report any exit polls, which aim to predict election results on the basis of surveys of how people say they have voted. | While polls are open, it is a criminal offence to report any exit polls, which aim to predict election results on the basis of surveys of how people say they have voted. |
| References to the local elections on the day are normally restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, the weather, or practical information about how to vote. | References to the local elections on the day are normally restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, the weather, or practical information about how to vote. |
| Once the polls have closed at 22:00, the election guidelines no longer apply. | Once the polls have closed at 22:00, the election guidelines no longer apply. |
| However, the BBC must still report the results with the impartiality required both by Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines. | However, the BBC must still report the results with the impartiality required both by Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines. |
| GET IN TOUCH: Tell us the election issues that matter to you | GET IN TOUCH: Tell us the election issues that matter to you |
| FULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories | FULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories |