It’s the last local election before the next general election. We’re expecting the results to be interesting… On May 2, 107 local authorities across England will see voters elect new councillors and, in some areas, new mayors. They’ll be choosing from everything from the Mayor of London in the capital to a new MP in Blackpool South. Voters across England and Wales will elect 37 police and crime commissioners (PCCs). And voters in Birmingham have some choices to make too.
What local elections are happening in Birmingham on May 2?
There are two elections taking place in Birmingham on May 2. The first is to decide the Mayor of the West Midlands. Representing nearly 3 million people, the Mayor can take responsibility for such matters as transport, housing, skills training and economic growth in the region – made up of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
Andy Street became the first elected Mayor in 2017 and will be standing once again as the Conservative candidate. He’ll be up against Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Green), Richard Parker (Labour), Sunny Virk (Liberal Democrats), Elaine Williams (Reform UK) and Akhmed Yakoob (Independent).
The bulk of local responsibilities will, however, remain in the hands of Birmingham City Council. Who, despite declaring themselves effectively bankrupt in 2023, will not have an election on May 2. You’ll have to wait until 2026 to vote for a change in Birmingham councillors.
The second election that Birmingham residents can vote in is to decide the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands. It’s the role of PCCs to run the region’s police force and cut crime in the area. There are two candidates to choose from in the West Midlands, Tom Byrne (Conservative) and Simon Foster (Labour).
How do I vote?
Voters must be aged 18 or over; registered at an address in the area; a British citizen, an Irish or EU citizen or eligible Commonwealth citizen; or not legally excluded from voting. Assuming you are already registered, you can check by heading here, there are three ways to vote:
- Polling station
- Postal vote
- Nominate a proxy – someone to vote on your behalf
The deadline to request a postal vote and apply for a proxy vote has passed, unfortunately. But you’ll be able to head down to your local polling station from 7am to 10pm on May 2. As long as you’re in the queue before 10pm, you’ll be able to vote. You can find your local polling station by heading here.
Just remember that you will need a form of photo ID to vote. There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, including passports and driving licences. You can check them all out here.