#local-elections

#local-elections

Christophe Barthes, the mayor of Carcassonne, stated, 'Out with the European flags at the town hall! Make way for the French flags,' as he shared footage of removing the EU flag.

The second-round results consolidated their dominance in the most populous centres of the overseas territory, which has been politically polarised for years between pro- and non-independence parties.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has cautioned councils that they face a "race against time" to prepare for the local elections scheduled for May, amid concerns over administrative readiness and staffing pressures. Speaking at a party briefing on Monday, Starmer urged local authorities to ensure polling stations, voter registration systems, and ballot delivery mechanisms are fully operational. He stressed the importance of maintaining confidence in the democratic process, particularly in light of expected higher turnout in key wards.

Local election administrators have warned that councils face "an uphill struggle" to be ready in time for the May local elections after the government reversed its plan to delay some votes. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed had initially approved delays in 30 council elections in England until 2027. But the government abandoned plans to postpone ballots after advice was given that the move could be unlawful.

Loving County, in northwest Texas, may have the highest trouble-to-resident ratio in the United States. With sixty-four inhabitants, as of the 2020 census, the county is the least populated in the country. Control of its top elected positions-sheriff, judge, constable, county clerk-can be swung by a handful of votes. Many of those vying for power are related to, and estranged from, their opponents. Election results are regularly challenged by the losing candidate, sometimes repeatedly;

Jemima Laing, acting leader of Labour-led Plymouth City Council, said the authority was "well advanced" in its preparations and the poll would go ahead. Laing said: "We recognise that this may be the right approach for some councils facing capacity challenges due to local government reorganisation - however, this is not the case for Plymouth. "We are already well advanced in our preparations for the May 2026 local elections and plans are firmly in place. Therefore, the elections will proceed as scheduled."

For the last 10-or-so years, I've seen Biarritz fracture. The pact of confidence between the people of Biarritz and their town hall is broken,

The government is set to postpone elections for newly created mayors in some parts of Southern England. Local government sources say two out of four areas expected to vote in May 2026 - Essex and the combined counties of Norfolk and Suffolk - will now do so at a later date. Opposition parties are calling for the elections to go ahead as planned, with shadow local government secretary James Cleverly accusing Labour of "subverting democracy".

With the election yesterday of Millennial Zohran Mamdani as New York City's mayor, generational change in Democratic Party politics has shifted more firmly away from Boomers. ( source) With the youngest Boomers in their mid-60s, it's time - not to mention other reasons like a lifetime of baggage impeding effective governance. This is an open thread with an emphasis on state and local elections.

Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement ( SOLVE) is a network housed at Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) consisting of more than 300 non-partisan grassroots voting rights groups focused on achieving fair and equitable access to the ballot. Our members are educating voters about what's at stake in local elections and how to access the ballot in a region with modern-day barriers to the ballot that disproportionately harm Black, Latino, Asian and Native American voters, as well as those with disabilities.

Ms Strom said she would do all she could to "ensure local voices are heard loud and clear". "We are working with the cards that have been handed to us by government, and under challenging conditions we continue to do our best to deliver for local people," she added.

What remains of the Blue Wall is crumbling away. People across Surrey and beyond have voted for true community champions who will put them first. The Liberal Democrats are winning against the Conservatives, but also Labour, Reform and the Greens.

Although the elections are meant to focus on municipal issues, the campaign has been dominated by national questions: identity, minority rights, and the stalled EU accession process. In the capital, Skopje, pressing local challenges remain unresolved. The city of about 520,000 people still lacks a wastewater treatment plant and has no public transport alternatives to buses. The next mayor will also need to adopt a long-delayed "General Urban Plan for 20222032" and oversee preparations for "Skopje European Capital of Culture 2028."