ENGLAND is heading back to the polls soon for the local elections.
Here's all you need to know about the next democratic contest in the UK, which could put Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn under pressure should their parties perform badly.
Rex Features Brits have found themselves back in the polling booths
When are the local elections?
Polling day for the local elections is May 3, 2018, as 156 councils go up for grabs in England.
Voting can be done in a number of ways – by proxy, by post, or in person.
Those voting in person will need to head to their local polling station to cast their ballot.
Voting is normally held in a large local building, such as a school, community centre or church.
The location of your polling station will be on the poll card sent to you.
If you can’t find the poll card, you can contact your local authority to find out.
You can find contact details for your local Electoral Registration Office on the government website.
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Which ward am I in?
Local elections are broken down by wards which each elect a councillor much like a constituency sends an MP to the House of Commons.
You can find out which ward you are voting in by visiting the Your Vote Matters website and entering your postcode.
It will then tell you which council you are under and which ward you will be voting in.
Who are the candidates?
According to The Electoral Commission, your local elections office will publish a list of all the candidates standing for election in your area.
Voters will be able to find a link to information about the election from your local council’s website.
However there is no official source of information on candidates as local councils and the Electoral Commission are usually not allowed to provide information on the people who are standing and their policies other than their name, address and party (if they have one).
In some elections, such as mayoral elections or referendums, you may be have sent an information booklet.
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How do I register to vote?
It is now too late to register to vote in the May 3 elections.
But you can still register for future elections by making sure you are on the electoral register.
To register you will need to provide certain documents to prove your identity and your eligibility to vote, usually your National Insurance number and/or your passport.
More info can be found on www.gov.uk/registertovote.
The deadline for registering to vote by post in these elections was 5pm on Wednesday, 18 April, 2018.
You could download the form to apply for a postal vote from yourvotematters.com.
You can hand your postal ballot in at your local council on the day if you’re not able to send it back by post in advance.
Jack Sargeant gives an emotional speech after he won the Alyn and Deeside by-election
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Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure with the latest polls showing the Conservatives are expected to lose seats to Labour in key parts of London Upsets are also expected in other territories across the country including Yorkshire, Manchester and Swindon. Council candidates will be battling for more than 4,000 seats across 150 councils in England. Mayoral elections are also running in Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region.
No polls are taking place in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. When do polls open? What time do polls close? Polling stations will open at 7am and close at 10pm on Thursday, May 3 as with previous elections. If you are still queueing outside at 10pm, then you will still be able to vote.
Getty Local elections 2018 polling: When do polls open? What time do polls close?
Your local council should have already sent you a poll card telling you where and when to vote. But if you haven’t received one or are unsure about your options, contact your local Electoral Registration Office as soon as possible. Where can you vote? Many public buildings, such as schools, church halls and community centres will double up as polling stations on the day.
PA Local elections 2018 polling: Theresa May is under pressure with some Tory seats at risk in London
The address will be displayed on your polling card. How to vote and fill in your ballot paper Once you arrive at your polling station, give your name and address to one of the staff on duty. You do not need to have your polling card with you.
EPA Local elections 2018 polling: Public buildings such as school halls are used for voting
GETTY Local elections 2018: Where are the local elections taking place?
This Thursday, tens of thousands of voters will head to the polling stations to cast their vote for local council seats. More than 4,000 seats from 150 councils are up for election. Seats in all 32 London boroughs are available, with The Labour Party hoping to build on the 20 boroughs they already control in the capital.
When are the local elections? Local elections will be held from 7am this Thursday, May 3. Polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm, with the results announced at the end of the day. The council elections do not directly affect Parliament or politics at large but give a good indication of national opinion, as well as galvanising parties in the knowledge that they remain popular amongst the people.
Where are the local elections? Democratic Dashboard, a project run by the London School of Economics, has mapped the breakdown of seats held by each council across the country. To find out who is in power in your area, click here. Most polling stations will be located in your local school or town hall. The venues are typically signposted to let you know where to go. Most of the seats in London will be closely watched this week, with the Conservative-held Westminster borough among those most tipped to switch hands.
GETTY Theresa May will be looking to quell Brexit fears this election
The Tories currently are predicted to hold a 42 percent majority against Labour’s 38 percent. Wandsworth is also likely to swing to Labour, as bookies slash odds down to 4-1 for the new anti-Brexit party, Renew, to take the area. Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead said: "The Renew Party are targeting these local elections as the last chance saloon to stop Brexit and put themselves on the map, and whilst our odds of 4-1 suggest that a seat might be beyond them it certainly isn't beyond the realms of possibility.” On its website, Renew says one of its main aims to is to fight for a second referendum on Brexit.
Dogs at polling stations Thu, June 8, 2017 As Britain goes to the polls to cast their votes, they're bringing their dogs with them Play slideshow Instagram 1 of 26
A statement says: “We want to stop Brexit and believe a second referendum on the final deal negotiated with the EU is overwhelmingly in the interests of both Leave and Remain supporters. “The British people must be allowed a vote on the reality of Brexit and come to an informed decision.” This year’s voting will also introduce a new Voter ID pilot that seeks to clamp down on voter personification fraud. Voters in Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking, will be required to take extra identification at their polling station in order to cast their vote.
GETTY Corbyn will be hoping to scoop up seats in London
The public are going to polling booths across the country today as more than 4,300 council seats come up for grabs, in local elections that are expected to yield gains for Labour.
London and metropolitan areas dominate the vote, with these urban areas expected to back Jeremy Corbyn in greater numbers.
These councils last voted in local elections in 2014, when Ed Miliband led the Labour Party to success.
As a result, Labour already starts from a strong position - especially in metropolitan areas such as London - which means it will be reasonably hard for Jeremy Corbyn to make significant inroads.
But with the Conservatives enjoying a recent rise in popularity, and Labour in the midst of an ...
