Nearest Polling Station Opens in North-West England for 461 Seats

Polling stations have opened across parts of North-West England, giving voters in the nearest polling station areas a chance to cast ballots in the local elections. A total of 461 seats are being contested across 21 councils, with voting spread across Greater Manchester and parts of Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire.

Greater Manchester Boroughs

People in all 10 of Greater Manchester's boroughs can vote, with one third of seats contested in each of the area's local authorities. That means the ballot covers a wide slice of local government at the same time, rather than a single council or one isolated ward.

The scale is part of what sets this round apart. The elections involve Greater Manchester, along with parts of Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire, making this the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election, according to the.

Merseyside And Cheshire

On Merseyside, Sefton and St Helens are holding all-out elections, with every seat up for grabs in both areas. Knowsley is also voting, with one third of seats contested there.

In Cheshire, Halton is also holding elections with one third of seats contested. For voters there, the practical step is straightforward: if they are eligible and want to take part, they need to vote before polling closes at 22:00 BST.

Lancashire Council Seats

Seven Lancashire areas are included in the ballot: Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston and West Lancashire. One third of the seats are being contested in each of those councils, adding another layer to a contest already spread across multiple counties.

Votes will be counted after the polls close at 22:00 BST, and results are expected to be declared either overnight or later on Friday. For readers in the affected areas, the immediate task is to vote at their nearest polling station before the close, then watch for results as counts begin after polling ends.