Local elections are taking place across the North East on May 5, with tens of thousands of voters expected to take to the polls.
New councillors will be elected to serve on Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council.
There are no elections in Northumberland and Durham, as both of these authorities elect all their members every four years, with the most recent elections held last year.
But other councils hold their elections on a rolling basis, with only one third of their councillors voted in at each election – plus any other vacancies that have arisen if councillors have resigned before the end of their term.
Each council will be announcing the results at different times, so we have rounded up everything you need to know ahead of polling day.
Newcastle City Council
The Newcastle City Council count will take place at Sports Central on Northumbria University's campus on Northumberland Road. As with general elections, Newcastle has a reputation of getting the count done quickly.
The first result is expected at around 11.30pm, and barring any recounts the last result will be done by 1.30am at the latest.
Will you be voting in this year's local elections? Let us know in the comments
Gateshead Council
Gateshead's count is at the town's leisure centre. Unlike the other councils, the count will not take place overnight.
Instead, it will begin at 9.30am on May 7. It is anticipated that the count will continue until 12pm, but a spokeswoman for the council said: "Unfortunately we cannot confirm when the first and last ward will be announced, as results will flow throughout the morning and announced as they are available."
North Tyneside Council
The North Tynesid e Council count will take place at The Bowling Hall at Parks Leisure Centre on Howdon Road in North Shields. The ballot boxes will be arriving from 10pm, with the first ward expected to be declared at midnight.
The final declaration is estimated to take at 1am. One seat in each of the council's 20 wards is up for grabs.
South Tyneside Council
The count is being held at Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields, with the count for South Tyneside Council's seats beginning at 10pm. The first ward is expected to be declared at 11.45pm.
The council have said the full council declaration is expected at either 12.45am or 3.30am. This will depend "on the situation with Covid" and whether the count will have to be completed in two stages, as it was in 2021. The council is also running a Neighbourhood Planning referendum in Whitburn, which may delay the finish time for that ward team.
Sunderland City Council
Sunderland's count is being held at the Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre from 10pm when the polls closed.
The first ward results are anticipated no later than midnight, with further declarations continuing into the early hours of the morning.
It is thought the council could be declared by 2am.
