Who am I voting for?
It depends where you live! On 5 May 2022, local elections will take place in nearly the whole of the United Kingdom. In England, 146 councils will hold elections. Among them, Leeds, Manchester Birmingham and South Yorkshire will also vote for regional mayor. In London, all 32 boroughs will hold elections. Local councils will also be elected throughout all of Wales and Scotland. There will be no elections held this year in Nottingham City or Liverpool.
This year’s local elections coincide with the election for Northern Ireland’s government (Assembly). In total, there will be over 4350 seats selected in over 140 local councils.
Why should I vote?
Voting in local elections is a way to shape local politics and ensure that you are represented by people closest to your views! It is local politicians who are responsible for your city's budget, transport, council tax or funding allocations from the city budget. Moreover, not joining the electoral roll may have a negative effect on your creditworthiness.
Remember, the foundation of every democratic system is participating in elections. Don't give up your right to vote!
Who can vote?
People at least 18 years of age (or 16 in Scotland and Wales).
You must also be one of the following:
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British citizen
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EU citizen living in the UK
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citizen of the Republic of Ireland
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Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
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Citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales, who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
Important election deadlines:
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Registration for this year’s elections ended at midnight on 14 April 2022. If you are not certain that you are registered, you can contact your local electoral services team here.
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Applications to vote by post had been processed until 17:00 on Tuesday, 19 April 2022.
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Applications to vote by proxy had been processed until 17:00 on Tuesday, 26 April 2022. In the future, to make use of the option, you must have a reason for not voting yourself, for example, having a disability.
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Election Day: Thursday, 5 May 2022, from 7:00 until 22:00.
What do I need to register?
Do you know that registration takes 5 minutes?
You need:
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You basic personal information (name, address, date of birth)
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Your National Insurance Number (optional, but if you have it, it is better to enter it)
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Internet connection and five minutes of your time
Watch this instructional video for how to register.
Where do I vote on Election Day?
Polling stations are usually located in public buildings such as schools, recreation centers or churches. If you are unsure of where your polling station is located, contact your local electoral services office here.
About the SheVotes/OnaGłosuje campaign:
Our actions
Did you know that people from Poland living in the UK have the right to vote and stand in local elections? Elect councilors and mayors? Elections are coming up on 5 May - register now!
For the second year in a row, we are running the "SheVotes/OnaGłosuje" campaign. The goal is to mobilize women voters ahead of the local elections in the UK on 5 May 5 2022. The main activities take place in major cities: London, Birmingham and Liverpool.
Over 700,000 people from Poland live in the UK. We are the second largest non-British nationality, yet our community struggles with low voter turnout and high barriers to democratic engagement. At the same time, we have seen a massive jump in turnout among the Polish diaspora in the 2020 Polish presidential elections and the 2019 Polish parliamentary elections. The SheVotes/OnaGłosuje team is thrilled about the second anniversary of the campaign, and the opportunity to strengthen the culture of civic participation. The campaign engages women voters before the May elections through social media actions, infographics, voter registration drives, live broadcasts, polls and surveys, discussion groups and street campaigns.
The first phase of the campaign focuses on making Polish people, especially women, living in the UK aware of their right to vote. From March 23, we actively remind you how and when you need to register on gov.uk. There are many detailed instructions and videos on how to do it on our social media. Registration only lasts until 14 April 2022, but you can already register for the next election cycle.
The second phase focuses on the voting itself. What can you influence through local elections? Who are the candidates? Where can you find more information about who is running? How do you vote?
