{"election_id":"local.bolton.2026-05-07","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"Bolton local election","poll_open_date":"2026-05-07","election_type":{"name":"Local elections","election_type":"local"},"election_subtype":null,"organisation":{"url":"http://elections.democracyclub.org.uk/api/organisations/local-authority/BOL/1974-04-01/","official_identifier":"BOL","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"MD","official_name":"Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council","common_name":"Bolton","slug":"bolton","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"Bolton local election","start_date":"1974-04-01","end_date":null,"created":"1974-04-01T00:00:00Z","modified":"2021-10-11T14:59:26.370579Z"},"group":"local.2026-05-07","group_type":"organisation","identifier_type":"organisation","children":["local.bolton.astley-bridge.2026-05-07","local.bolton.bradshaw.2026-05-07","local.bolton.breightmet.2026-05-07","local.bolton.bromley-cross.2026-05-07","local.bolton.farnworth-north.2026-05-07","local.bolton.farnworth-south.2026-05-07","local.bolton.great-lever.2026-05-07","local.bolton.halliwell.2026-05-07","local.bolton.heaton-lostock-chew-moor.2026-05-07","local.bolton.horwich-north.2026-05-07","local.bolton.horwich-south-blackrod.2026-05-07","local.bolton.hulton.2026-05-07","local.bolton.kearsley.2026-05-07","local.bolton.little-lever-darcy-lever.2026-05-07","local.bolton.queens-park-central.2026-05-07","local.bolton.rumworth.2026-05-07","local.bolton.smithills.2026-05-07","local.bolton.tonge-with-the-haulgh.2026-05-07","local.bolton.westhoughton-north-hunger-hill.2026-05-07","local.bolton.westhoughton-south.2026-05-07"],"elected_role":"Local Councillor","seats_contested":null,"division":null,"voting_system":{"name":"First-past-the-post","wikipedia_url":"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post_voting","description":"A first-past-the-post (abbreviated FPTP, 1stP, 1PTP or FPP) or winner-takes-all election is one that is won by the candidate receiving more votes than any others.","uses_party_lists":false,"slug":"FPTP"},"requires_voter_id":null,"current":true,"explanation":"This is an election for **metropolitan borough councillors**. \r\n\r\nCouncillors represent the people of their ward on the council. Councillors are elected for four-year terms, and most wards are represented by more than one councillor. This council elects one-third of its councillors each year, which is why you may only have one vote.\r\n\r\nMetropolitan borough councils are responsible for many different services, including:\r\n\r\n * Child and adult social care\r\n * Schools and education\r\n * Rubbish collection and recycling\r\n * Housing and planning\r\n * Libraries and museums\r\n * Roads and pavements\r\n * Sports facilities and public parks\r\n\r\nCouncils are funded by a combination of council tax, business rates, and grants from the UK government. Councillors are not paid a salary, but they do receive financial compensation and expenses to cover their time and travel commitments.\r\n\r\n[**Learn more about English local government from New Local.**](https://www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/local-government-explained-part-2-what-do-councils-do/)","metadata":null,"deleted":false,"cancelled":false,"cancellation_reason":null,"replaces":null,"replaced_by":null,"by_election_reason":"","tags":{},"created":"2025-11-11T12:20:26.706517Z","modified":"2026-02-11T11:05:22.247101Z"}