Polls open for Northern Ireland local government elections 

It has been a low-key election campaign, largely overshadowed by the visit to Northern Ireland of US President Joe Biden, commemorations of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and the coronation

The 11 local councils are responsible for a number of services, including waste collection, street cleaning, local planning, leisure services and parks.

Polling stations have opened in Northern Ireland’s local government elections. Voters will be electing 462 councillors across the 11 councils in Northern Ireland.

It is the first electoral test for the parties since last year’s Assembly elections and takes place against the backdrop of the continued Stormont stalemate with the powersharing institutions not operating as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements.