Local elections 2024 live: Voting under way across England and Wales - BBC News

15 days ago

Do You Have A TV License?

You are required by law to possess one in order to stream live television on any gadget or channel, as well as view any BBC shows on iPlayer.

Local Elections 2024 - Figure 1 — Photo BBC News

Rewritten by Nadia Ragozhina and James Harness

Time. The times provided will be in UK time.

Various Polling Stations Captured In Photos

Voting areas appear in diverse locations, commonly found in educational institutions, public centres, or book depositories.

Nevertheless, a few fortunate individuals have the opportunity to vote in various captivating venues. Let's take a glimpse at some stunning and unsightly locations where you can submit your vote.

Which ID For Voting In Local Elections?

Voters are required to present photo identification at the polling places for the current local elections.

Which types of documents can you present as photo identification?

There are 22 appropriate types of identification, which consist of:

As long as your appearance has not significantly changed, it is possible to make use of an expired photo ID.

If you put on a face covering, like a surgical mask or a head covering worn for religious purposes, you will be requested to take it off for a short while to allow the personnel at the voting center to verify that your identification matches your appearance.

What occurs in case you are unable to display authorized identification at the voting location?

If you visit the voting center on Thursday, May 2nd lacking the appropriate identification, you'll have to return with valid paperwork.

If you believe that your identification has been unfairly denied, the Electoral Commission recommends that you inform the individual in charge at the polling station. If the situation is not resolved, you can convey your apprehensions to the returning officer in charge of your council.

If you want to know more about the regulations, check out our article.

"Nearby Polling Stations: Only Meters Apart"

As previously stated in one of our blog posts, if you have successfully registered for the upcoming May local elections, you should have already received a card indicating your polling number and the location of your assigned polling station.

However, those who intend to vote in a specific area of Ledbury, located in Herefordshire, should ensure they know which polling station to head towards, as there are two stations in close proximity to one another.

Certain inhabitants have to go towards the pool (which is situated to the left of the picture) whereas some have to proceed to the community hall which is only a few steps away (on the right side).

Get Ready For The Election: Important Dates To Note

There is a requirement for general elections to occur within a maximum period of five years.

The Parliament can be dissolved at the latest on the fifth anniversary of when it initially convened.

The present legislature will come to a close on December 17th, 2024.

Nonetheless, there is an allowance of 25 business days to prepare for the implementation of plans.

This implies that the upcoming election is required to occur no later than January 28th, 2025.

However, there is a possibility that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak might decide to conduct it prior to that timeline.

He stated in January 2024 that he believed it was likely there would be an election during the latter half of the year.

The Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt proposed that the survey was planned for October during the month of March.

BBC Political Editor Chris Mason has remarked that there was a great deal of enthusiastic expectation leading up to the local elections that the general election could potentially occur during the summer.

Find out more about the individuals or groups responsible for determining the date of the upcoming national election.

When Will We Get The Results?

A bunch of election outcomes from different regions will be made public by the time it is Friday the 3rd of May. More will likely be announced sometime later, and a few others will be revealed possibly during the weekend.

The outcome of the mayoral elections will be announced on the 4th and 5th of May.

The announcement of the London Assembly elections will be made on Saturday.

We will provide complete coverage throughout the night, so if you plan to stay up with us, get ready to make some tea!

A great number of individuals have been submitting photographs to us at BBC News. We've acquired over 50 pictures up to this point - we have chosen some of our preferred ones to display:

Struggling To Vote? Here Are Your Options

The workers at the voting place are there to help you, or you can choose to be accompanied by someone you trust.

In the UK, individuals of 18 years of age or older can lend their support in facilitating your voting process regardless of their eligibility to vote.

In Wales, individuals who are qualified to cast their vote and are 16 years and above can lend you a hand when you vote for the Senedd or participate in local elections. Similarly, those who are 18 years and older are eligible to vote in the police and crime commissioner elections. However, in the case of general elections, the person can be over 18 but it is not mandatory for them to have the right to vote.

It would be beneficial if voting booths had a sample ballot paper that is printed in a sizeable font, as well as devices that provide a tactile experience to help those with visual impairments.

When you go to vote, you're allowed to bring your phone with you inside the booth. This can be helpful if you need to use apps that magnify or read the text out loud, or if you want to use the phone's light to make it easier to see. However, it's really important that you don't take any pictures while you're there.

What Elections Are Happening Nearby?

The polling stations have been opened and voting has begun in certain regions of England for the selection of council members and mayors.

Elections are set to take place across England and Wales to select individuals to hold the position of police and crime commissioner.

The elections taking place vary throughout the nation.

Simply click on the link provided and insert your zip code to discover the candidates and issues up for election in your locality.

Make sure to bring your photo identification when you go to vote.

Voters In Cambridgeshire Vote From Car

The ownership rights of the intellectual property contained in this blog belongs to the local governing body of Cambridge, known as the Cambridge City Council. They retain the exclusive right to reproduce or distribute any part of the blog, and no unauthorized use of its contents is permitted without their prior written consent.

Cambridge voters who arrived early at the polling station were given the opportunity to tick their boxes from the rear seats of a car.

A polling team member established a makeshift voting station due to difficulties accessing the Milton Road Library in Cambridgeshire.

The first voters arrived at the polling station to vote after 07:00 BST. An hour later, the library opened and was completely functioning.

The Cambridge City Council commended the "excellent endeavor".

According to a representative from the council, the staff responsible for organizing the local elections in 39 locations throughout the city are performing exceptionally well today. In the event of any issues, they have implemented several contingency plans to ensure that residents of Cambridge are able to exercise their right to vote.

This morning, there was an issue with door codes and reaching the right people at Milton Road Library polling station. However, our team members demonstrated impressive resourcefulness and solved the problem by using one of their personal cars.

This is not the initial occasion where a voting place has been set up inside a car's trunk.

During the year 2021, people who were eligible to vote in Oxford had to do so while sitting in their cars since the person in charge of the church accidentally slept through their duties.

Can't Vote In Person On Election Day?

The dates for enrolling to cast your ballot in the May elections, as well as for requesting a postal or proxy vote, have already elapsed.

If you have already enrolled for the election, you can still ask for an emergency proxy vote in case unforeseeable work duties or health issues prevent you from physically making it to the polling station on the day of voting.

If you are unable to apply for a voter authority certificate in time, due to the absence, theft or destruction of your photo ID, then you have the option of requesting for an emergency proxy.

In order to achieve this, get in touch with the electoral services department of your nearby council. You have the ability to accomplish this task until 5:00 pm British Summer Time on the day of the election.

If you possess a mail vote, make sure to send it to your nearby council before 22:00 on 2 May.

You have the option to send back your ballot papers earlier via mail or submit them at a voting center or your community government office prior to the polls ending at 22:00.

Reporting Rules On Election Day: Dos And Don'ts

The BBC, along with other media outlets, has to follow a set of regulations that prohibit them from disclosing any information pertaining to political campaigns or election-related matters while the voting is still taking place in England and Wales.

According to electoral legislation, the BBC has to adhere to a set of guidelines that promote a level playing field for all candidates. This is of utmost significance during the actual voting day.

The election guidelines contain a code of practice which gives detailed instructions for each election, and in it you can find information about what to do on polling day.

During the day when people vote, the BBC will not give information or updates about the election campaigns. This will happen from 6:00 am British Summer Time up until the polls finish at 10:00 pm British Summer Time. This will apply to all forms of media such as television, radio, bbc.co.uk, as well as social media and other platforms.

As we anticipate the polls coming to an end, we'll keep updating you on the procedures and protocols of the elections as well as the ballot casting process, accompanied by some adorable pictures of our furry pals.

Tips For Owners On Traveling With Their Dogs

It's that moment when #dogsatpollingstations invades our social media platforms. But supposing you plan on bringing your furry buddy along when you cast your vote, Blue Cross, the animal welfare charity, has some guidance for you.

Dogs Voting: Cute Pics At Polls

This morning, two dogs named Dax and Cookie, one of which is a black labrador and the other a terrier, headed out to a voting location located in Putney, which is a district of London.

It's the first time Cookie has been to a place where people cast their votes.

Dax, on the other hand, has started coming often after being convinced with a little reward to model for a photo in 2021.

Down below, there is Cinna, an 8-year-old pooch, who was rescued from Greece. He has come along with his owners to the voting center located at St Alban's Church situated in the southern part of London.

Polling Station: Dos And Don'ts

The centers designed for voting commenced operations this day at seven o'clock in the morning and will wrap up the process promptly at ten o'clock at night according to the British Summer Time.

Discover additional information regarding what to do and what not to do on this topic by clicking here.

When & Where To Vote

In case you've enrolled for the May regional elections, you must have obtained a polling card consisting of your polling number and polling location information.

When you choose to cast your vote in person, it's important to note that you can only do so at your nearby polling station. This location may not be the one closest to your residence, and it could have been relocated since your last time voting. So, make sure to verify the correct polling station before heading out to avoid any inconvenience.

Voting at a polling station other than the assigned one, for instance, a more convenient one near your workplace, isn't possible. However, you can locate your designated polling station via the internet.

On election day, you can vote at the polling booths from 7 in the morning until 10 at night in the British Summer Time (BST) time zone. Even if there is a line, you are eligible to cast your vote if you got in the queue before 10 pm.

When you go to vote, it's not necessary to bring your polling card, but you should plan to bring identification with a photo.

Discover additional information about the upcoming elections by accessing this section.

Do you have any updates from your polling place? Did you and your furry friends cast your votes today?

There are also various means of contacting us, including:

Sometimes, we may choose to publish some of the comments and questions you give us. Don't worry, we'll only include your name and where you're from if you agree, otherwise we won't. Your personal information will always be kept private and we won't share it with anyone.

What's London Painting?

Londoners will be using a new method for electing their mayor this year. The upcoming election will now follow the conventional 'first-past-the-post' approach.

In essence, this implies that only one voting cycle is allowed and there is no provision for choosing second preferences. The individual with the highest number of votes emerges as the winner.

Sadiq Khan is attempting to make history by securing his third consecutive term as the mayor of London, after triumphing in the previous elections held in 2016 and 2021.

The individual who holds the position of London Mayor is responsible for serving as a voice for the multitude of individuals who call the city home - a whopping 8.9 million people, to be exact. Additionally, the Mayor is in charge of making budgetary decisions related to a sizeable sum of £20.4bn.

The mayor has the duty of overseeing Transport for London (TfL) and has certain authority over the city's roads, law enforcement, and housing.

Citizens of London will have the opportunity to participate in elections and choose from a pool of 14 local representatives who will be part of the London Assembly. Additionally, they can vote for 11 assembly members who will contribute to maintaining the mayor's responsibility.

"Millions To Vote Today!"

Some of the big competitions taking place include the by-election in Blackpool South, which came about when the previous Conservative MP stepped down. Additionally, there are 11 races for regional mayors who will have authority over transportation, housing, and big-picture planning.

The East Midlands, North East, and York and North Yorkshire will be selecting mayors for the very first time. All eyes will be on the current mayors of London, West Midlands and Tees Valley as they try to keep their positions.

However, a better reflection of how the country feels could possibly be observed through the outcome of the local council elections. These elections involve more than 100 local councils and have around 2,500 seats available. These councils are responsible for managing education budgets, social care, and local services.

The upcoming elections in England and Wales will involve the selection of police and crime commissioners. Additionally, a new requirement has been put in place that mandates the presentation of a photo ID when casting a ballot.