Voting under way in West Midlands as polls open

Polls for the 2026 local elections have opened across the West Midlands, with voters now able to cast their ballots.

There are all-out elections in Birmingham, Coventry, Walsall, Sandwell, Solihull and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

A third of seats are up for election in Dudley, Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Cannock Chase and Redditch.

There are no elections being held in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 and will close at 22:00 BST.

Across England, about 5,000 seats across 136 local councils are up for grabs with six mayoral contests also being held.

Like MPs, local councillors are elected under the first-past-the-post system.

The candidate or candidates with the most votes in each ward win and become councillors.

Here is a guide on what you can and cannot do in a polling booth, and below are some of the most important things you need to know:

• You need to take valid photo ID with you

• You can only vote at your local polling station, so it is important you find out where you need to go - this might not be the same as in previous elections

• Polling stations are open between 07:00 and 22:00 - you can vote after 22:00 as long as you were already in the queue

• Taking photos inside a polling station is not permitted - but you can take photos outside

• Animals, apart from assistance dogs, are not usually allowed in polling stations

• Bringing children to the polling station is encouraged but they are not allowed to mark your vote on the ballot paper

The deadlines to register to vote, request a postal vote or apply for a proxy vote have all passed.

However, if you are already on the electoral roll and realise at the last minute that you will not be able to vote in person as planned, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 17:00 on polling day.

Your proxy - the person nominated to vote on your behalf - must also already be registered to vote.

Polling stations close at 22:00 on Thursday.

After they close, election guidelines no longer apply - but the BBC must still report on the election, of course, with the impartiality requirements set out by both Ofcom and the BBC's own Editorial Guidelines.

The BBC will be reporting what happens live, with results expected from Friday.

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