The polls have now opened for the Local Elections 2024 and here is everything you need to know for the day ahead.
If you live in Darlington, Stockton, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland you will be voting in the Tees Valley mayoral election.
If you live in Sunderland, Gateshead, Newcastle, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Durham or Northumberland you will be voting in the North East mayoral election.
Or if you live in York or North Yorkshire you will be voting in the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire election.
It will be a chance to take part in selecting the first ever combined authority mayors in the North East and North Yorkshire.
There will also be a number of smaller council elections dotting the region including Hartlepool, Sunderland, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Newcastle upon Tyne.
Here are the things we think you should know heading into polling day.
Voting rules:
Registered voters will have to produce photo IDs to cast their ballots in the local elections.
This also applies to Police and Crime Commissioner elections, UK parliamentary by-elections, and recall petitions. Photo ID will also be required for general elections.
Valid forms of photo ID include:
– Passport
– Driving licences (both full and provisional)
– Blue badges
– Older person’s bus pass
– Disabled person’s bus pass
– Identity card bearing the proof of age standard scheme hologram
At the polling station:
You can find your polling station on the Electoral Commission‘s website. It is important to check with your polling station as it may not necessarily be the closest one to where you live. Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm. As long as you’re in the queue at 10pm you’ll be allowed in to cast your vote.
Your polling station will be on your polling card. If you still have not received your polling card get in touch with the electoral services of your local council.
Mayoral Election candidates:
Tees Valley Mayoral Election
Ben Houchen - Conservative Party
Chris McEwan - Labour Party
Simon Thorley - Liberal Democrat Party
North East Mayoral Election
Kim McGuinness - Labour Party
Jamie Driscoll - Independent
Guy Renner-Thompson - Conservative Party
Andrew Gray - Green Party
Aidan John King - Liberal Democrat Party
Paul Donaghy - Reform Party
North Yorkshire Mayoral Election
David Skaith - Labour and Co-operative Party
Keane Charles Duncan - Conservative and Unionist Party
Felicity Clare Cunliffe-Lister - Liberal Democrat Party
Kevin Foster - Green Party
Paul Haslam - Independent
Keith Graham Tordoff - Independent
Seats up for grabs at the Local Council Elections:
Hartlepool Council
7 Conservative seats
2 Labour seats
3 Independent seats
Sunderland Council
6 Conservative seats
12 Labour seats
4 Liberal Democrat seats
2 Independent seats
1 Reform seat
Gateshead Council
17 Labour seats
5 Liberal Democrat seats
South Tyneside Council
1 Conservative seat
14 Labour seats
2 Green seats
1 Independent seat
Newcastle upon Tyne Council
18 Labour seats
6 Liberal Democrat seats
2 Independent seats
North Tyneside Council
6 Conservative seats
48 Labour seats
6 Independent seats
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