Although Somerset held elections for its three unitary authorities last year, the county is still going to the polls next month.

So comprehensive is the patchwork of local elections happening across the country that every voter in England and Wales will be able to vote in at least one type of election on May 2. Elections are happening for 107 of the unitary authorities and district councils in England, nine metro mayors, the Mayor of London, London Assembly, and all police and crime commissioners in both England and Wales.

There are no local councillors up for election on Bath and North East Somerset Council or North Somerset Council, and just one on Somerset Council — a byelection for Mendip South. But voters across the three councils — along with those in Bristol and South Gloucestershire — will be electing a new police and crime commissioner for Avon and Somerset Police.

The police and crime commissioner sets the police precept part of council tax, decides how the budget is spent, sets local policing priorities, and can appoint and dismiss the chief constable. They also hold a regular performance and accountability panel, holding the chief constable and deputy chief constable to account on local issues.

Poll cards should already be dropping on doormats for the election, with details of your local polling station. You do not need to bring your poll card with you to vote but you will need to bring one of the 22 acceptable forms of photo ID.

The deadline to register to vote in the election is Tuesday April 16, and the deadline to register for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday April 17.

Current police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford (Conservative) was elected in 2021. Elections are normally held every four years but the 2020 election was postponed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the date of the next election was not changed to reflect this.

This year’s election will be the first for the role to use the “first past the post” electoral system. Police and crime commissioner elections previously used a “supplementary vote system,” where people could vote for a first and second choice. Now you will only be able to vote for one candidate.

Although nine metro mayors are up for election this May, the West of England Metro Mayor — whose area includes Bath and North East Somerset — is not up for election again until 2025. Bristol is the only area covered by the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner which is also holding its local elections on the same day.

The deadline to stand for election as the police and crime commissioner is 4pm on Friday April 5. Nomination papers must be hand delivered to the office of the police area returning officer at the Guildhall in Bath.

A general election is expected to happen later this year but no date has yet been announced.