Overview of the May 7 Elections
On 7 May, approximately 30 million eligible voters across Great Britain will participate in various elections. These include elections for the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, as well as council and mayoral elections in certain parts of England.
Use our tool to determine the candidates and parties you can vote for in your area.
Scottish Parliament
All 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament are contested in this election. Voters in Scotland have two votes: one for their local constituency and one for their wider region.
There are 73 constituencies, each electing one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) through a first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes wins.
The remaining 56 MSPs are elected from eight regions, with each region electing seven members using a proportional representation system.
It is important to note that boundary changes have been implemented for this election, resulting in some constituencies having new names and altered boundaries.
Welsh Parliament
The Welsh Parliament is undergoing significant changes this election, expanding from 60 to 96 seats and introducing a new electoral system.
Boundary adjustments have been made, replacing the previous constituencies and regions with 16 new constituencies. Each of these will elect six members using a proportional representation system.
Voters will cast a single vote for a party or an independent candidate.
English Councils and Mayors
On 7 May, elections will be held for over 5,000 councillor positions across 136 councils in England. These include district, metropolitan, unitary, and county councils.
All London boroughs will hold elections, alongside areas in the West Midlands, the North West, and other regions across England.
There are six county council elections scheduled, with three in East Anglia and three in the South East. Most of these seats were last contested in 2022.
Additionally, six council mayor positions are up for election: five in London and one in Watford.
Produced by Wesley Stephenson, Jess Carr, Aidan McNamee, Allison Shultes, Steven Connor, Scott Jarvis, and Chris Kay.
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