The next local elections are taking place on Thursday, May 7
The deadline for registering to vote is rapidly approaching(Image: PA)
People have just hours left before the deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming local elections taking place in England, Scotland and Wales on May 7.
Elections are being held on the first Thursday in May to elect members of the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales, while some 5,013 council seats in England are up for grabs across 136 local authorities. There are also contests to choose six local mayors.
Members of the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd were last elected in 2021, while this is the largest set of local elections in England for three years.
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Government figures have revealed that around 42,827 applications to register to vote were submitted on Sunday, April 19, the highest on a single day so far this year. And an average of 33,218 applications were made per day in the week to April 19, up from 23,255 the previous week and 21,426 a fortnight ago.
Applications can be submitted online at gov.uk/registertovote.
The contests on May 7 represent a crucial test at the ballot box for all political parties. Elections for devolved parliaments, councils and mayors can reflect voters’ attitudes about their local area, such as when bins are collected, the state of parks and pavements, or the quality of schools and hospitals.
But they can also be a verdict on how parties and leaders are handling national issues – which this year could mean the cost of living, the economy and immigration, or even foreign affairs such as the wars in Iran and Ukraine.
Along with Monday’s deadline to register to vote, there are a number of other key dates before polling day. The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the elections is 5pm on Tuesday April 21. Applications can be made online at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
All voters in England intending to cast a ballot in the elections on May 7 will not only need to be registered but also show a form of photo identification at the polling station. Not all types of photo ID will be accepted, but a passport, driving licence or blue badge are valid.
Anyone without the correct identification will need to apply for a voter authority certificate by 5pm on Tuesday April 28, which can be done online at gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.
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When is the deadline for registering to vote
The deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming local election falls at 11:59pm on Monday, April 20.
