Walsall voters will be asked to pick three candidates when they go the polls

The people of Walsall will be asked to vote for three candidates when they go to the polls on May 7, with all 60 of the council’s seats up for grabs.

There are 20 wards across Walsall, each represented by three seats. Normally, voters are asked to elect one councillor for a four-year term each year, with one fallow year in each four-year cycle.

However, due to recent boundary changes, both Walsall and Sandwell will be holding all-out elections this year.

This means at the ballot box people will be asked to vote for three candidates.

The candidate with the highest number of votes will serve a four‑year term, the second‑placed candidate a two‑year term, and the third‑placed candidate will be up for re-election again next year.

This system allows the council to return to its usual electoral cycle. After this election, Walsall will return to electing by thirds where only one seat is contested at each election.

Because of the updated boundaries, voters may find themselves in different wards to the ones they were previously in, and the polling station may have changed, so people are advised to check their polling card closely.

This year’s election will be one of the most closely-fought elections, and if recent events are anything to go by, it will be very difficult to predict.

At the moment the Conservatives have a clear lead on the council holding 29 of the 60 seats, although they now fall two short of a majority.

Walsall Community Independents, a left-leaning group made up of predominantly former Labour councillors, now represents the principle opposition group holding 12 seats, with Labour in third place on 11. Former Tory Councillor Jade Chapman now represents Advance UK, with the remainder being made up independents. Councillor Graham Eardley, elected to Pelsall as a Reform UK councillor at a by-election in September, has since joined Rupert Lowe’s Restore UK, but will be standing as an independent.

But while Walsall Community Independents are now the main opposition group, they will not be able to take control of the council as they are fielding just 20 candidates.

The Conservatives, Labour and Reform will fight all 60 seats, while the Greens will be fielding 53 candidates, meaning that - in theory at least - any one of those parties could seize control of the council.

But with the strong possibility of a ‘hung’ council, it could well be the smaller parties and independents which end up holding the balance of power.

The Liberal Democrats will be fielding seven candidates, and Advance UK - a right-wing party led by former Reform deputy leader Ben Habib - will be fielding five.

There will be 16 independent candidates standing.