Local elections 2024: When and where are they, and who can vote?

Voters in parts of England and Wales will elect councillors, mayors and police commissioners on 2 May.

These are the last local elections before the next general election.

Elections are taking place in 107 local authorities across England.

In addition, voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs)

No elections are taking place in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

There are three ways to vote:

Voters in some areas will have multiple ballot papers for the different elections taking place, so should read the instructions carefully.

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.

For the first time, mayors and police and crime commissioners will also be elected under the first-past-the-post system.

To vote in person in England and Wales, you must be registered by 23:59 BST on Tuesday 16 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.

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.

Local councils are responsible for many public services, including:

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.

A fifth of English councils have admitted they may become insolvent in the next 18 months.

The crisis follows long-term cuts to local government funding dating back to 2010.

Outside London, elections will take place in nine metro areas across England.

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.

Metro mayors set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing, transport and skills. If you include the London mayor, they control around £25bn, covering 44% of the population in England.

Voters will also choose the mayor of Salford, the directly-elected leader of the city council.

Elections for 37 PCCs are taking place in England and Wales – though not in London where the mayor performs this role.

PCCs oversee their local police force and fire service. They replaced police authorities, whose members were not directly elected, in 2012.

Most of these council seats were last contested in May 2021, after the 2020 elections were postponed for a year due to the pandemic.

Voting took place alongside the other elections which were already scheduled for that day.

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.

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. The London Assembly elections will also be declared on Saturday.