Millions will be postal voting for the first time

What is happening on 10 June?

Elections for the European Parliament are being held across Europe, including all 12 constituencies in the UK. There are also local council elections in many areas of the UK. In addition, people living in London will be able to vote in the mayoral and London assembly elections.

Which local councils are holding elections?

There will be elections in 36 English metropolitan districts and 20 English unitary authorities, including major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Derby and Southampton. In most cases these will be postal ballots. In Wales, 22 unitary authorities are holding all-council elections. There will be no local elections in Scotland or Northern Ireland as they voted in 2003, and will not now vote again until 2007.

How do I vote?

You will receive a polling card through the post. On Thursday 10 June, take the card along to your local polling station. Staff there will tick your name off a list and give you the ballot papers. You then enter a booth, where you put an 'X' next to your choice of candidate or party.

Sounds simple

Not so quick... unlike a General Election where you only have one ballot paper and one vote, this time there will be more than one vote for many people. In London, voters will have three ballot papers and five votes: one for the European election, two London Assembly member votes and a first and second choice for London mayor. Outside London, people will have the one European vote, plus whatever local election is taking place.

What about areas with postal voting?

The same system applies - but the voting will be done at home rather than in a polling booth. Ballot papers for local council and European Parliament elections were due to have been sent out on 25 May. Voters can hand in their completed forms to the returning officer until 2200 BST on 10 June. But, in practice, the Royal Mail has advised people to get their ballot papers in the post by Tuesday, 8 June. If you miss that date, you can cast your vote at special "assistance and delivery points". Details of where to find these centres - open from 1 June - will be printed on your polling card.

How does the European voting system work?

Instead of voting for a candidate from their chosen party, you vote for a party, with a single 'X' vote. Parties win a number of MEPs equal to their share of the vote in each region. For instance, in a region with 10 MEPs, if a party gets 10% of the vote, then they will get 10% of the seats - one.

How is the London Mayor elected?

If a candidate wins more than half of the first choice votes, they are elected. If no candidate wins more than half the first choice votes, all but the top two candidates are eliminated. The second choice votes of these eliminated candidates are allocated to the two candidates left in the race. This means that voters' second choice can prove crucial even if their first choice is eliminated immediately.

What about the London Assembly?

Each voter has two votes - the first is cast for a constituency assembly member - the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. The second vote is used to elect 11 additional assembly members to represent the whole of London, with the choice simply between the different parties.

And the local elections?

Councillors are voted in using the "first-past-the post" system, just like at a General Election. The candidate who gets the most votes wins, regardless of whether he or she has more than 50% support.

When will the results be announced?

The results of the three elections on 10 June will not all be announced at the same time - many of the local election results will come overnight, with London mayoral and assembly and remaining local election results expected by early evening on Friday 11 June. The European election results are not expected until late on Sunday 13 June.