Political parties make final pitches ahead of key elections

Counts are conducted by local returning officers; delays or recounts may occur.

In council elections, voters generally have one vote for each available seat in an area; ballot papers indicate the number of votes allowed.

Rules state voters must be British or Irish citizens, or a qualifying foreign national; rules vary by election.

Lists of candidates and manifesto guides for Scotland and Wales will remain online during polling day.

Subjects raised during the campaign must not be covered until polls close at 22:00 BST; no opinion polls can be published while people are voting; exit polls are prohibited; on polling day coverage is limited to uncontroversial factual reporting.

Counts for all 16 Welsh constituencies will begin Friday morning, with results likely from lunchtime and continuing into the early evening; higher likelihood of recounts due to the new voting system and new constituencies.

Counts for Scotland's constituencies and regional lists will begin Friday morning; the shape of the new Parliament should be clear by Friday evening, though some seats may not be declared until late Friday or Saturday.

Counts for local elections will begin in a phased way: only a few authorities may count on Thursday night; most will begin Friday morning, with the first results expected in the early hours of Friday and the latest results by Saturday evening.

Voters in four parts of England—Milton Keynes (centre:mk), Cambridge, North Hertfordshire and Tunbridge Wells—will be able to vote in different places or ahead of polling day as part of a participation pilot.

If you cannot vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 17:00 BST on polling day; both you and your proxy must be registered and the proxy must have appropriate ID.

For in-person voting: England requires valid photo ID; out-of-date ID is allowed if still recognizable. Scotland and Wales do not require ID for in-person voting.

The deadline for registering to vote has now passed.

Voters must be 18 or older to vote in England's local elections, and 16 or older to vote in the Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections.

Northern Ireland local council and Assembly elections are scheduled for May 2027.

In England, voters will elect local councillors across about 5,000 seats in 136 councils and six mayors, in Watford and five London boroughs (Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets). Local councillors are elected under first-past-the-post; the party with the most seats gains control of the council.

The Senedd will expand to 96 MSs across 16 constituencies. Parties can list up to eight candidates per constituency. Voters choose a party or an independent candidate; regional seats are allocated based on proportional representation.

All 129 MSPs will be elected: 73 constituency MSPs (first past the post) and 56 regional MSPs (proportional representation). Voters receive two ballot papers: one for their constituency MSP and one for regional MSPs.

Polls are scheduled for Thursday 7 May 2026 across England, Scotland and Wales, with local council and mayoral polls in England and national parliament elections in Scotland and Wales.

The article 'What you need to know about the 7 May elections in England, Scotland and Wales' was published.

The vast majority of the results in England, Scotland and Wales are expected on Friday, May 8, with results released over the weekend of May 9–10.

Everyone voting in person in the local elections in England will need a valid photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, but there is no such requirement in Scotland and Wales.

All adults aged 18 and over can vote in the elections if they are either a British or Irish citizen, or a qualifying foreign national.

There are about 5,000 councillors across 136 local authorities, as well as six mayors, up for election in parts of England. Labour is described as either controlling or leading the majority of the council areas holding elections.

In Wales, 92 seats are up for grabs in an expanded Senedd. The party that wins the most seats would lead the Welsh government and set policy on devolved issues.

In Scotland, all 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are up for re-election. The Scottish National Party is currently in power, and the election will determine governance in devolved areas such as health and education.

The article confirms polls will be open from 07:00 BST to 22:00 BST on Thursday, May 7, 2026, across England, Scotland and Wales.

The article is published reporting that millions across England, Scotland and Wales will vote in a large set of polls on May 7, 2026. It notes polls will be open 07:00 BST to 22:00 BST on Thursday, May 7, 2026, and that results are expected on Friday and over the weekend. It marks this as the largest polls set since the 2024 general election and the second set of elections during Prime Minister Keir Starmer's premiership.

The elections are described as a potential indicator of public opinion on Labour's leadership under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, with speculation of a leadership challenge if results prove disastrous.

Polls will be open 0700 BST to 2200 BST on Thursday 7 May 2026; results expected Friday and over the weekend.

In Scotland, SNP First Minister John Swinney urged positive votes for the SNP. In Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth described the Welsh election as 'going down to the wire' and promoted Plaid as the Wales-focused party that can beat Reform.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged a clear choice between unity and division in a Mirror message. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the Tories as the only serious party and outlined their plan including drilling for oil, tax cuts and relief for small businesses. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey claimed his party can stop Reform UK and highlighted local issues. Green Party leader Zack Polanski promoted wealth taxes and lower bills. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage repeated the slogan 'Vote Reform Get Starmer out'. SNP First Minister John Swinney called for votes for an SNP government; Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth framed Plaid as Wales-focused and best placed to beat Reform.

Campaign leaders and candidates were on the campaign trail on the last full day of campaigning across England, Scotland and Wales.

The article notes that the polls in this election will be the biggest test of public opinion since Labour won the general election in 2024.