Local elections will take place on Thursday 5 May 2011 in 279 English local authorities. Elections will also be held on the same day to the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly. In Northern Ireland, elections to the existing 26 local councils are also due to be held on 5 May 2011.

Where are local elections taking place on 5 May 2011?

Local elections in England are due to take place on 5 May 2011 in:
36 Metropolitan Boroughs in England – all by thirds
49 Unitary authorities in England – 19 by thirds and 30 all-up
194 Second-tier districts in England– 70 by thirds and 124 all-up
26 district councils in Northern Ireland – all-up

The Conservative led coalition Government intends for the local elections to be held alongside a referendum on voting reform (the Alternative Voting system : AV).

How many voters will go to the polls in May?

Authorities in England with elections scheduled for 2011 have approx. 31 million voters (79% of total voters in England).

Across the UK as a whole, 38.4 million voters, 83% of voters, are scheduled to have elections in their area on 5 May 2011.