What are local elections all about?

Millions of adults in England will be voting in some important elections this week, which could have a big effect on the area where you live.

These are local elections where people choose who they want to run their villages, towns, counties or cities.

There are different types of local authorities - often known as councils - but they are in charge of lots of things in our local areas, including schools, leisure centres, traffic and bin collections.

Here's what you need to know.

What do local authorities do?

There are lots of different types of local authorities, and the names can be confusing.

You might have heard them go by different names - like town, city and county councils, assemblies, mayors and even unitary authorities!

Whatever name they go by, their main task is to manage local areas, make decisions and provide services for their community.

In local elections, people who live in a particular area vote for who should lead and make decisions for their area.

Why are local elections important?

Local elections are always important as they decide who runs vital services that affect millions of people's lives every day.

Often these are things you see and use regularly including schools, leisure centres, parks, libraries, bin collections and litter picking.

Some of the money to pay for these services is given to local authorities by the UK government and some of it comes from contributions by people who live in the area, known as local taxes.

When are the local elections?

Doncaster will have elections for the council, parish and town councils and a directly-elected Mayor

On Thursday 1 May 2025, there are several different types of elections going on at the same time.

Elections are taking place for more more than 1,600 councillors in 23 councils across England.

Six mayoral elections are also happening: in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, North Tyneside, Doncaster and – for the first time – in Greater Lincolnshire and Hull and East Yorkshire.

Also, council elections are taking place in the Isles of Scilly.

There is also a by-election in Runcorn and Helsby where voters will choose a new Member of Parliament (MP) who will to go to Westminster and represent them in the House of Commons.

In some parts of England, local elections have been postponed because the government is planning to reorganise local councils.

No routine elections are taking place in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Who stands in local elections?

Elections are being held for Devon County Council

Usually all the main UK political parties have representatives standing in the local elections, along with many smaller parties and independent candidates.

Local elections are different to a general election, where people around the UK vote for a government to run the whole country. The last general election was in 2024.

The local elections are about choosing who runs local services in the village, town or city where you live.