Shropshire voters head to polls for local elections

Polls will be open until 22:00 BST, with the count happening on Friday

Polling stations in Shropshire have opened for the 2025 local council elections.

All seats on Shropshire Council are going before voters, with polls closing at 22:00 BST and the count taking place on Friday.

There will be 74 councillors elected in 72 wards, as two divisions - Wem and St Martin's - have two councillors each.

There are no elections in Telford, however.

Shropshire Council is a unitary authority, which means it provides all front-line local services - from kerb-side bin collections to social care, planning and council tax collections.

The authority has been run by the Conservatives since it became a unitary council in 2009.

There are also a number of town and parish council elections happening.

Candidates for each area can be found on Shropshire Council's website.

Where can I vote in person?

Use our tool to find out who your candidates are and where you can vote.

What you can and cannot do in a polling booth

We have a great guide on what you can and cannot do in a polling booth, but here are some of the most important things you need to know:

• You need to take valid photo ID

• You can only vote at your local polling station, so it is important you find out where you need to go - this might not be the same as in previous elections

• Polling stations are open between 07:00 and 22:00 - you can vote after 22:00 as long as you were already in the queue

• Taking photos inside a polling station is not permitted - but you can take photos outside

• Animals, apart from assistance dogs, are not usually allowed in polling stations

• Bringing children to the polling station is encouraged but they are not allowed to mark your vote on the ballot paper

What if I cannot vote in person?

The deadlines to register to vote, request a postal vote or apply for a proxy vote have all passed.

However, if you are already on the electoral roll and realise at the last minute that you will not be able to vote in person as planned, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 17:00 on polling day.

Your proxy - the person nominated to vote on your behalf - must also already be registered to vote.

When will the election results be known?

Shropshire Council's count will take place at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Friday.

Only authorised attendees are allowed access.

The BBC will be reporting live from the count, with results expected by Friday evening.

Shropshire Council will also post the results for each division on its website.