Local elections 2025 vote: Voters head to polls to elect local councillors and mayors in parts of England

Summary

Voters are heading to the polls in parts of England to elect councillors and mayors in the first local elections since the UK general election last summer
There is also a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby for a new MP
Across England, more than 1,600 seats are being contested in 23 councils, with six mayoral positions also up for grabs - find out if there's an election near you
Voters need to show photo ID - we've got the general dos and don'ts inside the polling station
And, of course, we're bringing you the best of dogs (and other animals) at polling stations - get in touch via WhatsApp on +44 7756 165803

Live Reporting

Edited by Matt Spivey

How does the BBC report polling day?published at 11:44 British Summer Time
Detailed BBC election guidelines are written and published for each election, setting out the approach it has to take on polling day.
The BBC, like other broadcasters, is not allowed to report details of campaigning or local election issues on TV, radio or online on polling day until 22:00 BST, when voting closes.
While polls are open, it is a criminal offence to report any exit polls, which aim to predict election results on the basis of surveys of how people say they have voted.
References to the local elections on the day are normally restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, such as the appearance of politicians at polling stations, the weather, or practical information about how to vote.
Once the polls have closed at 22:00, the election guidelines no longer apply.
However, the BBC must still report the results with the impartiality required both by Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines.
Walk, pose, smile: Dogs bask in sunshine at polling stationspublished at 11:33 British Summer Time
In what has become something of a tradition, dogs are posing outside polling stations - it's almost like they've become familiar with having a picture taken next to the large black and white signs.
Here's a selection of some of your pooches making the most of their time in the limelight.
Keep sending your pictures into us, here's how to get in touch.
Image source, Amelia Halls
Image caption,
Heather smiles at the camera while accompanying owner Amelia to vote in Cambridgeshire
Image source, Michael Clarke
Image caption,
Golden Retriever Austin grabs a snap with Michael and Sam Waters who voted this morning in Bristol
Image source, James Moloney
Image caption,
Oliver pulls a pose - captured here in Northamptonshire
Image source, Amanda Vidler
Image caption,
Ingrid the Greyhound looks ready to continue her walk
What mayors dopublished at 11:04 British Summer Time
In total, six mayors will be chosen by voters in these local elections.
Two regions are electing "single authority mayors" and four are choosing "metro mayors" - but what do they do?
A single authority mayor leads the council and they are responsible for delivering local council services. In this election, voters in Doncaster and North Tyneside will elect this type of mayor.
A metro mayor leads combined authorities, which include a group of several local councils. They set out plans to boost their local economy, and have some powers over housing and transport. They're being elected in West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Lincolnshire, and Hull and East Yorkshire.
Our Political Editor Chris Mason says directly elected mayors have become a fashionable new thing in England.
What councillors dopublished at 10:43 British Summer Time
According to the Local Government Association, councillors "provide a bridge between the community and the council".
They’re elected for four-year terms to represent a certain local area, known as a ward. Councillors aren’t paid a salary - but they are entitled to an "allowance" and expenses.
Their role largely includes:
- Casework - responding to queries from locals
- Working with communities and organisations to shape the future of the area
- Communicating council decisions
Pooches at polling stationspublished at 10:20 British Summer Time
Matt Spivey
Live editor
Dogs at polling stations. I repeat, dogs at polling stations.
Three hours after polls opened in pockets of England, we're getting our first batch of images showing your pets waiting patiently while you cast your votes.
For some, it's a notably early morning - like Maxi the Jack Russell who couldn't contain his yawn.
As a reminder, you can get in touch to share your images from polling stations via WhatsApp on +44 7756 165803.
Image source, Calum Brown
Image caption,
It may have been a little too bright and early for Maxi the Jack Russell this morning at St John's Chapel, County Durham
Image source, Dan Q.
Image caption,
Three-year-old Demmy waits patiently outside the polling station at Stanton Harcourt Village Hall, West Oxfordshire
Image source, Ian Norman
Image caption,
Skies are slightly more grey for Badger whose owner voted in Chesterfield this morning
Emergency proxy vote still an option for somepublished at 10:05 British Summer Time
The deadline to vote by post or by proxy have passed - which means the vast majority of those eligible to vote will need to do so in-person today.
If you are unable to vote in person as planned due to unforeseen circumstances then you can apply for an emergency proxy up until 17:00 BST on polling day.
You must already be on the electoral roll and your proxy - the person nominated to vote on your behalf - must also be registered to vote.
To apply, or to find out further information, contact your local council's electoral services team.
Who can vote?published at 09:38 British Summer Time
To vote in local elections you must be:
- Aged 18 or over
- Registered at an address in the area where you want to vote
- A British or Irish citizen
- An eligible Commonwealth citizen
- A qualifying EU citizen - the rules vary according to which country you are from, external
EU citizens cannot vote in the Runcorn and Helsby parliamentary by-election.
A need-to-know guide to polling daypublished at 09:08 British Summer Time
As voters in parts of England take to the polls to elect councillors and mayors, we've answered the three essential questions about the local elections:
What are the elections for? Elections are taking place in 23 councils across England, in addition to one by-election and six mayoral contests.
When does voting start and end? Polls opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 BST. Find your polling station., external
Where are polling stations? Use our postcode lookup tool to see if there’s a vote in your area. Or check out the map below for a broader look at where they’re happening.
For a more detailed look at the local elections and how they work, refer to our guide.
Sun shines down as voters head to the pollspublished at 08:39 British Summer Time
It's bright and early in England, and some voters are heading to polling stations to have their say in local elections.
Here's a snapshot of the pictures we've seen in parts of England this morning.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
A voter's furry friend has already attended a polling station in Hertfordshire
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
People leaving a polling station in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Image source, EPA
Image caption,
In the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, polling stations are open
Polling station companions - can we beat Neptune the snake?published at 08:20 British Summer Time
Image source, Joe Berry/BBC
Image caption,
At last year's general election, Neptune the snake made an appearance outside a polling station in Wimborne, Dorset
One of our favourite parts of polling day here at BBC News is getting a glimpse at the companions you bring with you to cast your vote.
Dogs are often the most common animal spotted at polling stations, but last year we saw Neptune the snake slither along with one voter to a polling station in Dorset.
Throughout today, we'll be asking you to send us more pictures of your companions - furry or not - as votes are cast in the local elections.
Remember, though, you can't take any photos inside your polling station - only outside. We went through some general do's and don'ts while voting a little earlier.
For information on how to get in touch with us, head to our previous post.
Image source, Reuters
Image caption,
It's fair to say four-legged friends are a more common sight when voting
Postpublished at 07:55 British Summer Time
What's the scene at your polling station? Have you taken your pet with you to vote?
Get in touch in the following ways and let us know:
- Upload your pictures and video
- Send us a WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 , external
- Email bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk
Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.
In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.
Use your own pen or pencil and don't take photos - dos and dont's when votingpublished at 07:27 British Summer Time
If you are eligible to vote today, casting your vote in person should be a fairly quick process.
However, while you are in the polling station there are certain rules you need to follow.
You can:
- Use your own pen or pencil to mark your ballot paper
- Wear clothing with political slogans
- Take your children with you, but they are not allowed to mark your ballot paper
- Vote if you have been drinking as long as you are not disruptive
You can't:
- Vote at a different polling station to the one on your polling card
- Take photos inside the polling station
- Show anyone your marked ballot paper or tell anyone inside the polling station how you have voted
- Discuss candidates or campaign for any party while inside
- Take your pets into the polling station, although dogs are sometimes admitted
You can read more on this in our explainer.
How do I vote and what ID do I need?published at 07:09 British Summer Time
Image source, PA Media
First, you need to be registered before you can vote. If you’re not sure whether you are, you can check here, external.
Head to your local polling station - find it here - and don't forget to bring photo ID. More than 20 forms of ID will be accepted,, external including:
- Passports
- Driving licences
- Older or Disabled Person's bus passes
- Oyster 60+ cards
- Armed Forces Veteran Cards (from 1 May)
In some areas, you might get several ballot papers for different elections, such as voting for your council and mayor.
Staff at the polling stations are there to help. They’ll give you your ballot papers, mark the registers and make sure you know what to do.
Polling stations open their doorspublished at 07:00 British Summer Time
Breaking
Image source, Getty Images
Polling stations have just opened for the day.
Voters in parts of England - listed in our earlier post - will now have until 22:00 BST to vote for more than 1,600 councillors and six mayors, as well as for an MP in a by-election in the Cheshire seat of Runcorn and Helsby.
As a reminder, you can use our tool to find out if there is an election in your area.
A look at what local councils dopublished at 06:38 British Summer Time
Different types of councils are responsible for a variety of services, including:
- Collecting rubbish and recycling
- Fixing potholes on some roads
- Planning applications
- Providing care for the elderly and disabled
- Housing
- Education
Local councils are partly funded by central government but they can also raise their own revenue through council tax, a compulsory charge on properties set by the local council, and business rates - a tax put on properties used for commercial purposes.
We said in our last post that today's elections were taking place across a variety of councils - including 14 county councils and eight unitary authorities - here's a look at what that means:
What elections are taking place, and where?published at 06:12 British Summer Time
Around a third of voters in England are getting the chance to have their say in these elections, and more than 1,600 councillors will be elected.
All the seats will be contested in:
- 14 county councils: Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire
- Eight unitary authorities: Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, County Durham, North Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, West Northamptonshire and Wiltshire
- One metropolitan district: Doncaster
And six areas will be voting for a directly-elected mayor: the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North Tyneside, Doncaster and - for the first time - both Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.
We’ve also got a Westminster by-election in Runcorn and Helsby.
In addition, more than a thousand parish councils and the Isles of Scilly are holding elections.
It's polling day and those eligible are preparing to votepublished at 06:09 British Summer Time
Sam Hancock
Live page editor
Image source, Getty Images
Parts of England will head to the polls today for local elections - plus we’ve got the first Westminster by-election of this Parliament.
At the local level voters will be choosing councillors and mayors, empowering them to make key decisions on how services are run in their area. Meanwhile, voters in the Cheshire constituency of Runcorn and Helsby will be choosing a new MP to send to Westminster.
It all adds up to make today the first major electoral test for political parties since last year’s general election.
Polls open at 07:00 BST and close at 22:00 BST, and the first results are expected to come in overnight.
We’ll be providing live updates throughout, plus we’ll have plenty of analysis and reaction as events unfold later on, so stick with us.
- Before we kick things off, a reminder that you can use our postcode tool to find out whether there's an election near you today, who the candidates are and where you can vote