Everything you need to know about the Oxfordshire elections today

Across the UK, local elections are taking place on May 6 and in Oxfordshire that includes the county council, district councils, and choosing a new Police and Crime Commissioner for the Thames Valley Police force.

Oxford Mail editor Pete Gavan said: “I’d encourage each and every one of you to get out and vote today.

“Whether it’s the local council or the police and crime commissioner polls, these are positions that relate to all of us and the only way of making sure your voice is heard is to cast your vote.”

So, what's going on? And why is it important?

What is a council?

Oxford City Council's company, Oxford Direct Services, collects rubbish across the city

Your council is responsible for most of the local public services in your area, including libraries, leisure centres, schools, collecting and disposing of rubbish, looking after adults and children in need of care, and repairing the roads.

In Oxfordshire however, there is a two-tier system with a county council and smaller district councils.

The county council looks after:

- Schools

- Roads

- Libraries

- Social care

The district councils look after:

- Council housing

- Bin collections

- Leisure centres

Why do we elect a council?

A new council is a bit like electing a new MP, except instead of choosing someone to make decisions on your behalf on a national level, it is on a local level.

Whichever political party gets a majority of seats on the council is able to take forward its ideas for how local services should be managed.

How can I vote?

Oxfordshire County Hall. Picture: Google Maps.

Elections are taking place on May 6 (today) across Oxfordshire.

But different parts of the county will have to take part in more than one election.

Everyone in the county will elect a new county councillor, but in the areas covered by Oxford City Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, and Cherwell District Council, you will also get to vote for district or city councillors.

In Oxford, voters will have two votes for the city council, as all 48 seats are up for grabs due to a change in the boundaries of electoral wards, the areas which councillors represent.

There are also Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner elections today, and you can read more about them here

Where can I vote?

To vote today, you will need to find your nearest polling station.

If you have received a polling card in the post, this will tell you the address of your polling station.

If you have lost this, then luckily enough, the website wheredoivote.co.uk can tell you where your nearest polling station is if you type in your postcode.

Is it safe to vote in person this year?

Yes it is. As the pandemic continues, extra safety precautions are being taken at polling stations.

Voters are advised to bring their own pens or pencils instead of using the ones provided, to prevent the spread of the virus.

Masks are also mandatory inside polling stations, and the private booths where voting takes place may be spaces further apart to maintain social distancing.

Only a small number of people can enter a polling station at any one time to prevent them from becoming overcrowded.

Hand sanitiser is available, and the booths will also be regularly cleaned.

Who are the candidates?

All the major political parties are standing candidates in the local elections, including the Conservatives, the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party.

There are also smaller political parties like Reform UK, and independent candidates who are standing without the backing of a political party.

If you are voting in the Oxfordshire County Council elections, find out more about the different promises candidates are making here:

• Tories promise to 'take climate seriously' and 'build back better'
• Labour promises council-run social care
• Why the Lib Dems want more LTNs in Oxfordshire
• Green Party pledge to oppose Green Belt building
• Independents, Reform UK, and other groups hoping for your vote

If you are voting in the Oxford City Council elections, find out more about the different promises candidates are making here:

• Oxford Labour promises more cheaper homes
• Lib Dems promise pedestrianised Oxford city centre
• Green Party promises 'Green New Deal for Oxford'
• Oxford Conservatives pledge to freeze council tax
• Oxford's independent council candidates, TUSC, and anti-lockdown party

If you are voting in the West Oxfordshire District Council elections, find out more about the different promises candidates are making here.

When will the results be announced?

Because of Covid, the results will be counted this weekend, instead of after voting takes place today.

Oxford City Council will count and announce the result of the vote on Saturday, May 8.

Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council, and West Oxfordshire District Council will count and announce the result of the vote on Sunday, May 9.