Worcester residents are being reminded that they will be voting for more than one city councillor in the local elections on Thursday 2 May.
In past years, people have been asked to vote for only one councillor each year, but this time all 35 seats on Worcester City Council are facing the polls at the same time, which means that voters can vote for two - or in some cases three – councillors on polling day.
Most voters in the city will be asked to select two councillors, but in the city's three largest wards – Claines, Nunnery and Warndon & Elbury Park – they will be able to vote for three candidates.
Shane Flynn, Returning Officer for Worcester, said: "In the past, only one-third of city councillors were elected each year in Worcester but that's now changed. This year, all 35 councillors will be voted in on 2 May and that means everyone in the city will have the opportunity to vote for more than one councillor.
"Your councillors will be making vital decisions on your behalf about bin collections, parks and planning permission, so don't make the mistake of only voting for one candidate when there are two or three city council seats in your ward."
The yellow ballot papers that people will be given for the City Council election will state how many candidates should be voted for.
The number of electoral wards in the city has increased from 15 to 16 following a recent review by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE). Major changes include the old Cathedral ward being split into two (Cathedral and Fort Royal), Gorse Hill and Warndon being merged into the new Warndon & Elbury Park ward, and significant changes in the south west of the city, where three refreshed wards have been created: St John's, Dines Green & Grove Farm, and Lower Wick & Pitmaston.
Full details of the new wards, including an interactive map, and all the information that voters need to take part in the 2 May polls are available on the election pages.
That webpage also includes details of what photo ID will be accepted at polling stations. Since 2023, voters have had to produce ID before marking a ballot paper at a polling station.
The polls on Thursday 2 May will also include the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia. In that election, people will be asked to vote for one candidate only, on a lilac-coloured ballot paper.
