Vote 2012: A guide to polls taking place on 3 May

1 May 2012

On 3 May, voters across Britain will go to the polls for council elections in England, Scotland and Wales, while several cities, including London, will choose their next directly-elected mayor. Referendums will be held in other cities to decide whether to have a directly-elected mayor in the future:

<paragraph>WHEN ARE THE POLLS?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHO IS BARRED FROM VOTING?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW MANY BALLOT PAPERS WILL I GET?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW DO THE VOTING SYSTEMS WORK?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHAT ABOUT PROXY VOTES?</paragraph>

<paragraph>IF I LIVE OVERSEAS, CAN I STILL VOTE?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHAT HELP IS THERE FOR DISABLED VOTERS?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHAT HAPPENS IF A VOTER IS ILLITERATE</paragraph>

<paragraph>IS VOTING COMPULSORY?</paragraph>

<paragraph>IS MY VOTE SECRET? </paragraph>

<paragraph>WHO CAN STAND AS A CANDIDATE?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW CAN I SET UP A POLITICAL PARTY?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW MUCH CAN THE PARTIES/CANDIDATES SPEND?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHERE DOES THEIR MONEY COME FROM?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHO ORGANISES THE ELECTION?</paragraph>

<paragraph>WHY ARE ELECTIONS HELD ON THURSDAYS?</paragraph>

<paragraph>HOW CAN I FIND OUT WHAT A CANDIDATE OR PARTY BELIEVES?</paragraph>

<paragraph>ARE THERE RULES FOR THE BBC'S COVERAGE?</paragraph>

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