Everything you need to know about the upcoming local elections in Battersea

On Thursday May 5 all 58 seats on Wandsworth Council will be up for election, for the first time since 2018.

Across the UK there are lots of local and regional elections taking place on the same day and it will be seen as a key test for Boris Johnson after months of negative headlines.

Wandsworth Council is currently Conservative held, with Labour hoping to change things as it is one of the key boroughs in London for this election.

In Wandsworth there have been some changes as the Local Government Boundary Commission for England agreed on new wards to take effect.

The 22 new wards therefore require a new polling scheme to be in place.

Wandsworth now has 14 three-councillor wards and 8 two-councillor wards, you can view the new polling district boundaries and polling places here.

How the elections work

Every four years, 'all out' elections take place in London, the last being in 2018.

Within 32 boroughs of London every council seat is up for election on the same day, May 5.

Boroughs are then divided up into wards, these have recently changed and Wandsworth now has 22 wards, your ward will vary depending on where you live.

In each ward electors can vote for as many council seats are being contested, in some wards this will be three seats, in others two seats.

Local residents are able to vote for candidates all from one party, a mix of parties or independent councillors who are not affiliated with any political party.

Who can vote?

All UK, Commonwealth and European Union citizens who are aged 18 or over on the day of the election and are living in the area are entitled to vote in the local elections.

Unlike parliamentary elections, people can be registered to vote at more than one address. For example a university student who lives at home during the holidays and has a term-time address would be entitled to vote in the local elections at each address.

How to vote

You are able to vote at your polling station on May 5, 07:00-22:00. The address of your polling station will be on your polling card that is sent to your address before election day by your local council.

Alternatively you can cast your vote via a postal ballot which would be sent to your address ahead of election day, please see below for how to register for a postal ballot.

You may also register for a proxy vote, which allows you to appoint someone you trust to vote for you. In order to vote by proxy there must be a reason, for example illness.

If someone is suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, they can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 17:00 on polling day.

Details on how to register:

You must register to vote by Thursday April 14 and this can new done online here or you can call 02088716023 (lines are open 09:00-17:00 Monday to Friday, except bank holidays).

If you wish to use a postal vote you must do so before 17:00 Tuesday April 19, this is the same to change or cancel an existing postal or pro vote.

To apply for a proxy vote you must do this before 17:00 April 26. You can find out more here.