The Local Election Cycle in England

Local elections in England operate on a four-year cycle, with some elections held every year.

Elections in 2025 will mostly cover county councils and unitary authorities covering large rural areas outside of England’s big cities, although a number of councils due to face the polls this May have had their elections postponed until 2026 in anticipation of restructuring of local government in those areas.

The 2025 elections will take place in areas that last elected their representatives in 2017 and 2021. The 2021 elections also covered those councils which had last been elected in 2016 and were due to be elected in 2020, but those elections had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those postponed elections returned to their normal schedule when they held elections in 2024.

Elections in 2022 mostly covered boroughs in London and other metropolitan centres along with some district councils in other parts of England, along with all councils in Scotland and Wales.

Elections in 2023 covered district councils outside of metropolitan areas along with some unitary authorities and all councils in Northern Ireland.

Elections in 2024 covered the London Assembly and metropolitan boroughs outside of London, along with some district councils.

England also has an increasing number of directly-elected mayors. Their elections are spread throughout the four year cycle, with six up for election in 2025. Two of those mayoral positions are newly created.

Download GovConnex's full 2025 Local Elections Preview to read more.