Voters across parts of England are heading to the polls today for a crucial round of local and mayoral elections. Looking ahead to local elections in 2025, this major electoral event marks the first widespread public vote since Labour’s sweeping win in the 2024 general election. It presents an opportunity for voters to shape local leadership in many communities.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 tonight. Ballots will be counted overnight, with most results expected by Friday evening. The elections cover a broad range of councils and authorities, and thousands of candidates are vying for around 1,650 council seats in the run-up to the 2025 local elections.
Voters will elect councillors in 24 local authorities, including 14 county councils and eight unitary authorities. Elections are also taking place in Doncaster Metropolitan Council and the Isles of Scilly. These elections are crucial for determining the direction of local governance in the months ahead.
Meanwhile, voters in six regions will choose new mayors. These include the West of England, North Tyneside, Doncaster, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and two newly formed mayoral authorities: Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. These mayoral elections carry significant weight as they influence local development and investment decisions, setting the stage for the local elections anticipated in 2025.
In addition, a by-election is being held in the Runcorn and Helsby constituency. This by-election follows the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury after a conviction for assault. The outcome will determine who represents the constituency in Parliament.
Originally, elections were scheduled in all 21 county councils across England. However, the government postponed polls in nine areas undergoing local authority reorganization, impacting the local elections 2025 schedule and leading to a reduced electoral map this year.
The county council elections taking place today include: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Voters in these areas will help decide who runs key local services.
Unitary authority elections are also happening in Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Durham, North Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire. The Isles of Scilly, which has a unique governance model, will also hold elections.
People casting their vote in person must show an accepted form of photo ID. Accepted forms include driving licenses, passports, and starting today, Armed Forces Veteran Cards. Voters should prepare in advance to avoid delays at polling stations, emphasizing the importance of local elections 2025 preparation.
The local elections 2025 will play a major role in shaping England’s political landscape. As local communities cast their votes, these elections provide a direct way for people to influence the future. The local elections 2025 are expected to reflect public sentiment following last year’s political shift.
With polls closing at 22:00, attention will soon turn to the counting process. Once ballots are tallied, the local elections in 2025 will reveal how voters across England want their communities to be governed and represented.
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