What Elections Can I Vote In On May 5?

    There are so many elections taking place in the UK on 5 May. Which ones can you actually vote in?

    by
    Paul Curry
    by Paul Curry

    Editorial Developer, UK

    ,
    Jim Waterson
    by Jim Waterson

    BuzzFeed UK Political Editor

    Elections are being held in every corner of the UK on 5 May – but there are loads of different contests for organisations ranging from regional assemblies to police commissioners and local councils.

    Rui Vieira / PA Images

    It's all very confusing, so BuzzFeed News has made this app to tell you what your local area is voting on – and what it means.

    Simply enter your postcode below, or use the “locate me” button if you're currently in the same place where you're registered to vote.

    Do I Have A Vote?

    Which of the upcoming elections do you have a vote in? Let's find out.

    Locating...

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    For example: SW1A 2AA

    Full postcode, please!

    Checking...

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    Here's what you can vote in (assuming you pressed the locate button in the same place you live):

    We didn't find any upcoming elections for your area, sorry.

    Data provided by

    And this is what they mean:

    Scottish Parliament Election

    You have two ballot papers for the Holyrood parliament election: One is for an individual in your local constituency (e.g. Edinburgh Central) and one is for a party on the regional list (e.g. Lothians). The constituency vote is run on a first-past-the-post basis, while the list is run using a form of proportional representation. You are allowed to vote for two different parties on the two different ballots.

    Welsh Assembly Election

    You have two ballot papers for the Cardiff Bay election: One is for an individual in your local constituency (e.g. Ceredigion) and one is for a party on the regional list (e.g. Mid and West Wales). The constituency vote is run on a first-past-the-post basis, while the list is run using a form of proportional representation. You are allowed to vote for two different parties on the two different ballots.

    Northern Ireland Assembly Election

    You have one ballot paper for the Northern Ireland assembly election. It's run on the single transferable vote system, which means you get to rank up to six candidates from the list. Six politicians are elected for each large constituency and you can vote for multiple politicians from the same political party.

    Mayoral Elections in London, Bristol, and Liverpool

    There's just one ballot paper for mayoral votes in England, although they're run on the supplementary vote system. This means you vote for your first choice candidate to be mayor and then for your second choice.

    London Assembly Election

    You have two ballot papers for the London assembly election, which elects politicians to scrutinise the mayor: One for an individual in your local constituency (e.g. Lambeth and Southwark) and one for a party on the London-wide list. The constituency vote is run on a first-past-the-post basis, while the list is run using a form of proportional representation. You are allowed to vote for two different parties on the two different ballots.

    Police and Crime Commissioner Elections

    There's just one ballot paper for police and crime commissioners, who hold the police to account in most of England and Wales. It's run on the same supplementary vote system as mayoral elections, which means you choose your first choice candidate and then your second choice.

    Local Council Elections

    There's just one ballot paper for local council elections in England and Wales. Individuals are elected for small local constituencies called "wards" on a first-past-the-post basis.