As thousands of people across the country take to the polls today, this is everything you need to know.

Elections will be held in Watford today for councillor positions on Watford Borough Council and for the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

They are among numerous elections taking place across the UK today, including for district councillors in nearby Three Rivers and for the Mayor of London position.

When and where:

Ballot boxes will be open in each of the town’s 12 wards from 7am to 10pm, and residents will still be allowed to vote past the deadline as long as they are in the queue before 10pm.

The address of your allocated polling station nearest your address will be printed on your poll card which is sent to you before the election.

You can see the full map of polling stations below:

What to do

You need to bring a form of photo ID to the polling station to vote, but are not required to take your poll card.

Upon arriving at the designated location, you should say your name and address to the staff and confirm your identity.

You will then be given a ballot paper with a list of candidates and their political party, and the instructions on the form will tell you how many you need to tick.

Watford Borough Council

Watford Borough Council is made up of 36 councillors, of which 12 seats (or a third) are up for election today.

Councillors are members of political parties who represent their local area or ward and help to decide how the town should be governed.

Watford Observer: Watford Mayor Peter Taylor currently leads the borough council.Watford Mayor Peter Taylor currently leads the borough council. The borough council is currently run by the Liberal Democrats who have a majority of 27 councillors, and is led by Watford Mayor Peter Taylor, whose post is next up for election in 2026.

Watford Observer: Watford Borough Council wards.Watford Borough Council wards. (Image: Watford Borough Council)The remaining nine councillors in opposition belong to the Labour party and no other political party is represented at the local authority.

Representatives for Labour, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are standing in all Watford wards, while there are candidates for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Reform UK, Heritage, the Green Party and Independent parties in specific areas.

When will the result be announced?

The vote will be counted overnight and the result is expected to be declared on Friday, May 3, at 1pm.

The full list of borough council candidates is available here.

Police and Crime Commissioner

Hertfordshire voters will also elect a new police and crime commissioner (PCC), who is responsible for planning county crime prevention strategies, balancing the police’s budget, and joining up crime prevention partners.

Watford Observer: PCC David Lloyd is stepping down after 12 years in the role.PCC David Lloyd is stepping down after 12 years in the role. Conservative PCC David Lloyd has been the only person to fill the role in the county so far, but announced earlier this year that he will not be standing for re-election after 12 years.

Read the list of PCC candidates below:

  • Jonathan Ash-Edwards - Conservative
  • Matt Fisher - Green Party
  • Tom Plater – Labour
  • Sean Prendergast – Liberal Democrats