Polling stations across England will close at 10pm tonight for the 2026 local elections. Of the 136 local authorities holding elections, 46 are set to count and declare results overnight. Here is an hour-by-hour breakdown of what to expect.
1am - 3am, Friday
Councils with large majorities are among the first to declare. Conservative-held Broxbourne and Labour-controlled Halton are both due to announce results around this time. Hartlepool and Lincoln, where Labour are defending majorities, are set to declare around 2am.
3am - 5am
Salford should finish counting around this period. At approximately 3.30am, Westminster is expected to be the first London council to complete its count. Hampshire is set to be the first county council to declare. In London, full results are due from Ealing (Labour), Sutton (Lib Dems), and Wandsworth (Labour). Newcastle is also anticipated to finish during this window.
5am
Among the authorities still counting overnight are six London councils: Bexley, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Kensington & Chelsea, Merton, and Richmond upon Thames.
9am
Counting begins for parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, for 86 local authorities in England, and for the six mayoral contests.
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