How to vote in 2021 local elections: Ballot papers, voting systems and results times explained

The 2021 elections will see people across Shropshire vote in the council and Police and Crime Commissioner polls, while those in Powys will be voting for the Welsh Senedd elections.

Millions of people will be voting across the country in dozens of individual elections taking place across the UK.

In total, Brits will be voting for 143 councils, 39 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs), 13 mayors, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, the London Assembly and an MP in the Hartlepool by-election.

The elections on May 6 are much bigger than usual, as they include votes already scheduled for this year and those which have been postponed 12 months from May 2020 by the pandemic.

It means that some people in the area will be filling out more than one form on Thursday, but others won't be voting for anyone at all.

Here is a guide explaining which elections are taking place in the Black Country and Staffordshire this week.

Which councils are holding an election?

The Shropshire Council election is the biggest council vote taking place in the county, while there also a handful of by-elections at Telford & Wrekin Council.

Police and Crime Commissioner elections

The 39 PCC elections includes the vote for West Mercia Police.

Welsh Parliament election

The Welsh Parliament (also known as the Senedd) elections will also be held on Thursday for those living west of the England/Wales border.

How to vote

Council

The voting system for council elections is first-past-the-post method, i.e. those with the most votes win.

Mark one or more Xs for the people you want to win your ward (your ballot paper will say how many).

Police and Crime Commissioner

The supplementary vote system is used to elect PCCs, meaning votes make a first and second choice.

If a candidate achieves more than 50% of first choice votes, they win.

However, if they don't, all candidates except the top two are eliminated.

If your first choice candidate is one of those eliminated, and your second vote went to one of the two remaining candidates, then your second vote is transferred to that candidate.

Whoever has more than 50% of the vote after that process is the winner.

Welsh Parliament

People in Wales will use the Additional Member system, which involves casting two votes.

Residents elect a constituency member to represent their local area as well as a second candidate to represent their wider region.

Two two Powys constituencies are Montgomeryshire and Brecon and Radnorshire, which both all into the Mid and West Wales region.

When will the results be announced?

Votes will be counted during the days following Thursday's election, with various results being declared at different times.

The times below are predictions, and could be delayed due to recounts.

Council elections

Shropshire Council: Full results Saturday, May 8 (some results will be declared on the evening of Friday, May 7)
Town and parish councils: Sunday, May 9

Police and Crime Commissioner election

Sunday, May 10

Welsh Parliament elections

The Senedd results are expected to be declared in the following order: