The local elections are taking place soon, giving you the chance to pick your councillors – here we answer some common questions about what happens on the big day.
What is the local election?
Local elections are normally held every four years. The elections to choose new Southwark councillors will take place on May 5 this year. You vote by ward – the area which you live in – for whichever candidates you want to represent you. Depending on the ward, there are either two or three councillors to choose.
Who can vote?
Any adult from the UK or EU living in the UK, or any adult from the Commonwealth with permission to stay in the UK can vote, as long as they have registered.
You can find your councillors on Southwark Council’s website by searching online for ‘find Southwark councillors’.
How do I vote?
Poll cards will tell you the location of your nearest polling station, open from 7am-10pm.
What happens next?
Votes are counted the same night and are announced the next morning, usually in the early hours. The party with the most seats will take control of the council, but if there is no clear majority, or a slim one, two or more parties can come together to form a coalition.
The controlling party, or parties, forms a cabinet which takes executive control of the council.
Why should I vote?
Your council makes important decisions and has responsibility for a huge range of things that affect your everyday life – from what housing gets built and where, to closing off roads to cars and keeping the streets clean and tidy.
Individual councillors in your area are also meant to help you with problems that you come to them with.
- READ MORE: – The Race is on! How things currently stand – click below
Southwark elections special 2022: one week to go until voters head to the polls
Southwark elections special 2022: How seats currently stand
Labour – 47 councillors
Liberal Democrat – 14 councillors
Independent – 1 councillor
Vacant – 1 seat (after Johnson Situ stepped down)
Turnout in the 2018 election – 34 per cent
Wards belonging to a single party:
Labour: 17 (as well as one with a single independent councillor)
Liberal Democrats: 5
READ MORE
- Labour currently runs the council, what does their leader has to say? – Click here
- WATCH: We did a special Gogglebox-style coverage in the in the run-up to the election – click below to view what residents have to say
Southwark Elections 2022: What do the ordinary people of Southwark think?
- The Lib Dems are the only other party with seats on the council, what does their leader have to say? – Click here
- The Greens say they won’t win but wants seats on the council, what they have to say? – Click here
- The Conservatives are hoping to get back seat on the council – how are they planning to do that? – Click here
- Outside the mainstream three other parties are standing in some areas of Southwark – who are they? – Read below