It's set to be a big night for anyone with an interest in politics across the Liverpool City Region, with five councils holding local elections.
And anyone wanting to follow the action live may need several large cups of coffee if they're planning to keep abreast of every result as it comes in after voting on Thursday, May 5.
While a number of the election declarations are expected in the early hours of Friday, May 6, others won't come in until during the day and the latest, St Helens, isn't expected until 5pm. Liverpool City Council isn't holding elections this year.
For estimated declaration times for your area - compiled by Matthew George of the Press Association news agency - check out the list below courtesy of The Northern Agenda political newsletter. Some timings may be subject to change.
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Most of the seats up for election on May 5 were last contested in 2018, when the UK was still in the European Union, the prime minister was Theresa May, Labour was led by Jeremy Corbyn and the Liberal Democrat leader was Vince Cable.
The political landscape of the UK has undergone huge changes in the past four years. Yet many of the issues that can decide local elections remain the same, such as when bins are collected, the state of neighbourhood parks and pavements, and access to libraries and hospitals.
This year’s elections are also likely to be a verdict on the main party leaders and their handling of such national issues as the cost of living and Covid-19. Get a snapshot of the Northern battlegrounds with this interactive map.
It will be the first big electoral test for Prime Minister Boris Johnson since the “partygate” scandal.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for elections in England, Wales and Scotland – where a person can ask someone they trust to cast a vote on their behalf – is April 26.
Provisional estimated declaration times for councils in the North
Barnsley, overnight Thurs/Fri, 7am
Blackburn with Darwen, Friday daytime, 4pm
Bolton, overnight Thurs/Fri, 12.30am
Bradford, Friday daytime, 6pm
Burnley, Friday daytime, 2.30pm
Bury, Friday daytime, 8.30pm
Calderdale, Friday daytime, 1.30pm
Chorley, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2am
Cumberland, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2.30am
Gateshead, Friday daytime, 12.30pm
Halton, overnight Thurs/Fri, 12.05am
Hartlepool, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2am
Hyndburn, Friday daytime, 3pm
What are the big battlegrounds on The Wirral? Have a listen to The Northern Agenda podcast
Hull, overnight Thurs/Fri, 3.30am
Kirklees, Friday daytime, 6.30pm
Knowsley , Friday daytime, 3pm
Leeds, Friday daytime, 4.30pm
Manchester, Friday daytime 3pm
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, overnight Thurs/Fri, 1.30am
North East Lincolnshire, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2.30am
North Yorkshire, Friday daytime, 5pm
Oldham, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2.15am
Pendle, Friday daytime, 4.30pm
Preston, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2.30am
Rochdale, Friday daytime, 3.30pm
Rossendale, Friday daytime, 2pm
Salford, overnight Thurs/Fri, 4am
Sefton , overnight Thurs/Fri , 2am
Sheffield, overnight Thurs/Fri, 3am
South Tyneside, overnight Thurs/Fri, 1.30am
St Helens, Friday daytime, 5pm
Stockport, overnight Thurs/Fri, 6am
Sunderland, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2am
Tameside, overnight Thurs/Fri, 1am
Trafford, Friday daytime, 3pm
Wakefield, Friday daytime, 5pm
West Lancashire, Friday daytime, 3.30pm
Westmorland and Furness, Friday daytime, 1pm
Wigan, overnight Thurs/Fri,1.30am
Wirral, overnight Thurs/Fri, 2am
South Yorkshire mayoral election, Friday daytime 4pm
