Voters in Somerset will be heading for the polls in just a week's time – and will be able to cast their vote for two candidates in the County Council election on 5 May.

This year's election is different as 110 councillors will be elected – two in each of the 55 divisions – as Somerset prepares for the biggest change in local government in decades.

For their first year, the councillors will take responsibility for all current County Council services and oversee the local government reorganisation to establish a single unitary council on 1 April 2023. District councils will remain until 31 March 2023 and the councillors serving on them will continue in their roles until that date. 

From 1 April 2023, the 110 councillors of the unitary council will be responsible for services that are currently delivered by the county and four district councils, ranging from adults and children's social care to highways and housing, and from libraries to planning and licensing.

So, it is crucial that people in Somerset use their two votes to elect those who will represent them for the next five years.

Polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm – it is easy to check which polling station to use by entering your postcode on this website: https://wheredoivote.co.uk/

Voters who have opted to vote by post must return their postal ballot pack by 10pm on 5 May - they can hand it in at their allocated polling station if they have not got time to return it by post.

A spokesperson for Somerset County Council said: "There's only a week to go before polling day and we whole-heartedly encourage everyone who is registered to vote to come out on 5 May and exercise their democratic right.

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"This is the chance to help decide who represents your community in a new council that will be responsible for services that have an impact on everyone's day-to-day lives."

You can follow the election results as they are announced during the day on 6 May by following Somerset County Council's twitter account @SomersetCouncil and #SomersetVotes. Results will also be updated on the County Council's website: www.somerset.gov.uk