Voters in parts of England are heading to the polls today for a significant round of local and mayoral elections, seen as the first major test of public opinion since Labour’s sweeping victory in the 2024 general election.
Elections are taking place across 24 local councils and six mayoral authorities, with around 1,650 seats up for grabs. In addition to council contests, a key parliamentary by-election is being held in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency in Cheshire, following the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury after his conviction for assault.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00, with results expected to trickle in overnight and throughout Friday. While most of the attention is focused on local governance, today’s elections are being closely monitored by national political parties as a potential bellwether for public sentiment ahead of future national polls.
The elections span a diverse set of regions, with council votes taking place in 14 county councils, including Cambridgeshire, Kent, and Gloucestershire. Eight unitary authorities such as Cornwall, Northumberland, and Wiltshire are also holding elections, as is the Doncaster Metropolitan District and the Isles of Scilly – the latter of which operates under a unique governance model.
Notably, six mayoral elections are taking place, including the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North Tyneside, Doncaster, and for the first time, Hull and East Yorkshire as well as Greater Lincolnshire. These newly introduced mayoralties mark a continued trend toward devolved local leadership in England.
Originally, elections to all 21 county councils in England were scheduled to occur this year. However, the government postponed votes in nine areas undergoing local authority reorganisation. These delays mean that voters in those areas will not head to the polls today.
Today’s by-election in Runcorn and Helsby will fill a vacant seat in Parliament and is expected to be tightly contested. Political observers will be watching the result closely as a test of Labour’s continued popularity following last year’s general election landslide.
For voters casting their ballots in person, photo identification is required—a rule first introduced in 2023. Over 20 forms of acceptable ID are listed by the Electoral Commission, including passports, driving licences, and, from today onwards, Armed Forces Veteran Cards.
There are no elections scheduled today in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
The BBC and other broadcasters will not report on campaigning or election-related issues on TV, radio, or online until polls close at 22:00, in line with electoral guidelines. A full suite of resources is available online, including postcode checkers and guides on acceptable ID.
With thousands of seats and multiple mayoral positions in play, today’s elections represent a critical moment for local democracy and a test of political momentum in a post-general election landscape.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
