April 24, 2012 12.10 pm This story is over 158 months old

Countdown to Lincoln local elections begins

Local elections: A tight race is expected this year as Labour and Conservatives will clash over control of the City Council.

Eleven seats will be contested in the Lincoln local elections on May 3.

Seats in seven wards are being defended, as current councillors in Glebe, Abbey, Park, Bracebridge, Minster, Hartsholme and Birchwood wards are seeking re-election.

Councillors in four wards, Castle, Carholme, Boultham and Moorland, are standing down and their seats are not being defended.

The Labour-controlled City of Lincoln Council is currently made up of 17 Labour councillors, 14 Conservative, one Liberal Democrat and one independent.

A tight race is expected this year as Labour and Conservatives will clash over control of the City Council.

Political parties have put forward 46 candidates this year.

To help you decide which local candidate to vote for, The Lincolnite‘s special local elections page contains profiles of all the elections hopefuls.

Lincoln Local Elections Candidate Profiles

For each candidate, you can find out what they think the most important issues are in their wards, as well as why they are asking for your vote.

You can also engage with your candidates and ask questions on their profiles, or locate your designated polling station.

Around 65,000 people are registered to vote in Lincoln, but only 36% voted last year, compared to more than 60% in 2010 for the local and Parliamentary elections.

The turnout in 2011 was however the highest since the local and Parliamentary elections in 2005 (56%).

On Thursday, May 3, polls will be open from 7am to 10pm. The results are expected just after midnight on May 4 and The Lincolnite will bring you live coverage.