Millions of voters are set to participate in local elections on Thursday, spanning various regions of England, Scotland, and Wales. The elections will cover approximately 5,000 seats across 134 councils in England, including all 32 boroughs in London. Meanwhile, in Wales, a new proportional voting system will elect 96 members of the Senedd across 16 constituencies, and in Scotland, 129 seats will be contested at Holyrood.

The announcement of results will commence in the early hours of Friday for English councils, with Wales and Scotland expected to follow later in the afternoon. Some areas in England may continue counting until Saturday. Declaration times are estimated and may be influenced by factors such as ballot verification delays, recounts, and voter turnout.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, with counts beginning after stations close. Unlike a General Election, there will be no early exit polls; instead, results will gradually emerge overnight. For those staying up, initial results from areas like Broxbourne, Halton, Harlow, and Redditch are expected around 1-2am, with more results to follow throughout the night and into the morning.

Various councils will declare their results around the 3am mark, with notable battles to watch in areas like Lincoln, Hartlepool, and Bolton. The outcome in key regions like Hampshire and London will be closely monitored, with parties like the Lib Dems and Greens challenging traditional strongholds.

As the day progresses, more results will be announced, with a significant number expected around 2pm, including councils like Sheffield, Cheltenham, and Norwich. The political landscape in areas like Hampshire and West Oxfordshire will be under scrutiny as key battlegrounds for different parties.

Results will continue to pour in during the late afternoon and evening, with a final push expected on Friday evening. The full set of results may not be available until the following day in some regions. The Welsh Parliament makeup will also be unveiled on Friday afternoon, with results from different regions trickling in gradually throughout the day.

The elections will showcase a diverse range of battles, with parties vying for control in various councils and constituencies. It will be a day of political significance, with potential shifts in power and interesting challenges emerging across the regions.