Elections on Thursday 6 May 2027

Most of the UK votes for councils next May, with new mayors in parts of England and an expected Assembly election in Northern Ireland. Here is what's on, who can vote and the dates to know.

Register to vote on GOV.UK

Polling stations are open 7am to 10pm. The deadlines below are worked out from the usual legal rules; councils confirm the official dates in spring 2027. You only need to register once unless you move or change your name. See also how to register.

• English local council and mayoral elections
• Scottish council elections
• Welsh council elections
• Northern Ireland council and Assembly elections (expected)

English local council and mayoral elections

7,554 seats

Photo ID is needed at the polling station. If you have none, apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm Tuesday 27 April 2027.

Who can vote

Age 18 or over on polling day. British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens, plus some EU citizens (those with retained rights from before the end of 2020, or citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain). Must be registered and live in the area.

How the voting works

Councillors: first past the post. You put a cross next to the candidate you want, and in wards with more than one seat you get one vote per seat. The candidates with the most votes win. Mayors: from 2027 mayors are expected to be elected by the supplementary vote, where you mark a first and second choice, if the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill becomes law. Otherwise first past the post.

What they decide

• Bin collections and recycling
• Local planning decisions, such as new houses and shops
• Adult and children's social care (unitary and metropolitan councils)
• Local roads, potholes and street lighting (unitary and metropolitan councils)
• Libraries, parks and leisure centres
• Setting council tax
• Mayors of combined areas: transport, adult skills, housing and economic growth across several councils

Mayors elected

• Bedford (council mayor)
• Cheshire and Warrington (first ever combined area mayor)
• Cumbria (first ever combined area mayor)
• Leicester (city mayor)
• Mansfield (council mayor)
• Middlesbrough (council mayor)

About 215 councils: 31 metropolitan boroughs, about 48 unitary councils and about 136 district councils. Some elect all their councillors, others elect one third. No London boroughs and no county councils vote in 2027.

Last time (2023)

• Labour2,675
• Conservative2,296
• Liberal Democrats1,628
• Green481
• Reform UK6

Most of these seats were last fought on 4 May 2023 (230 English councils). England-wide councillor totals from that day.

Good to know

• Polling stations are open 7am to 10pm on Thursday 6 May 2027.
• England is the only part of Great Britain where you need photo ID to vote in a council election.
• Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria will elect their first ever regional mayors. These votes were moved from 2026 to 2027 to line up with council elections.
• Some councils elect all their councillors every four years. Others elect a third of them each year.
• You only need to register once, unless you move house or change your name.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, pollcheck.co.uk, questions-statements.parliament.uk, electoralcommission.org.uk, go.walsall.gov.uk, en.wikipedia.org, bedfordindependent.co.uk, carmarthenshire.gov.wales

Scottish council elections

1,226 seats

Who can vote

Age 16 or over. Anyone living in Scotland who is British, Irish, from the EU or Commonwealth, or any other foreign national with permission to live in the UK (any kind of leave to remain), or who does not need permission. Must be registered.

How the voting works

Single transferable vote. You number the candidates in order: 1 for your favourite, 2 for your next choice, and so on, as many or as few as you like. Each ward elects 3 or 4 councillors. If your first choice does not need your vote, or cannot win, it moves to your next choice.

What they decide

• Schools and nurseries
• Social work and care for older people
• Bin collections and recycling
• Local roads and street lighting
• Planning and local housing
• Libraries, parks and leisure
• Setting council tax

Last time (2022)

• SNP453
• Labour282
• Conservative214
• Independents149
• Liberal Democrats87
• Green35
• Others3

Councillors elected on 5 May 2022 across all 32 councils (3 seats were vacant in the summary).

Good to know

• All 32 Scottish councils elect every councillor on the same day.
• You rank candidates with numbers, not a cross.
• 16 and 17 year olds can vote.
• You do not need photo ID to vote in a Scottish council election.
• Scotland has used the single transferable vote for council elections since 2007.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, legislation.gov.uk, glasgow.gov.uk, electoralcommission.org.uk, parliament.scot, pollcheck.co.uk

Welsh council elections

1,234 seats

Who can vote

Age 16 or over. British, Irish, Commonwealth and EU citizens and other foreign nationals who live in Wales and have permission to stay in the UK, or do not need it. Must be registered.

How the voting works

First past the post. You put a cross next to the candidate you want, with one vote per seat in wards that elect more than one councillor. No Welsh council voted to switch to the single transferable vote in time for 2027.

What they decide

• Schools
• Social services and care
• Bin collections and recycling
• Local roads
• Planning and housing
• Libraries and leisure centres
• Setting council tax

Last time (2022)

• Labour526
• Independents307
• Plaid Cymru202
• Conservative111
• Liberal Democrats69
• Green8
• Others9

Councillors elected on 5 May 2022 across all 22 councils.

Good to know

• All 22 Welsh councils elect every councillor on the same day.
• 16 and 17 year olds can vote in Welsh council elections.
• You do not need photo ID to vote in a Welsh council election.
• Councils in Wales were allowed to switch to ranked voting, but none did so in time for 2027.
• Some councils, such as Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and the Vale of Glamorgan, have new ward boundaries.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, carmarthenshire.gov.wales, electoralcommission.org.uk, pollcheck.co.uk

Northern Ireland council and Assembly elections (expected)

552 seats. 462 council seats plus 90 Assembly seats. The Assembly election must be held on or before 6 May 2027. Whether both are on the same day is expected but not confirmed in the sources read.

Photo ID has been needed to vote in Northern Ireland since 2003. A free Electoral Identity Card is available.

Who can vote

Age 18 or over. British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth and some EU citizens. Rules differ slightly from Great Britain, so check with the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

How the voting works

Single transferable vote. You number candidates in order of preference. Assembly constituencies each elect 5 members; council areas elect several councillors per area.

What they decide

• Assembly: health, schools, policing and justice, housing, transport, farming and the environment
• Councils: bins, leisure, local planning, parks and building control

Last time (2022)

• Sinn Féin27
• DUP25
• Alliance17
• UUP9
• SDLP8
• TUV1
• People Before Profit1

Assembly seats won in May 2022 (main parties; 88 of 90 seats shown).

Good to know

• Northern Ireland uses ranked voting for both council and Assembly elections.
• Photo ID has been required in Northern Ireland for over 20 years.
• The voting age in Northern Ireland is 18, not 16.
• The Assembly shares power between the largest unionist and nationalist parties.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, electoralcommission.org.uk

Checked 31 October 2026. We are independent and don't back any party.