Local elections are taking place in Northern Ireland this week for the first time since the power-sharing executive collapsed in February 2022.&nbsp;

While only councillors are up for election in this vote, the results will be instrumental for whether the <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/16/dup-still-wary-eu-law-northern-ireland-brexit-deal-vote-looms/">DUP drops its boycott of Stormont</a> over the Irish Sea border and accepts Rishi Sunak's new Brexit deal.

Here, The Telegraph outlines everything you need to know ahead of the elections.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/10/27/fresh-stormont-elections-loom-talks-end-break-dup-boycott-fail/">Council elections will be held on May 18</a> this year, two weeks after elections elsewhere in the UK. They were delayed to avoid overlapping with the King’s Coronation.&nbsp;

The elections use the single transferable vote system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference if they wish.&nbsp;

Northern Ireland will elect 462 councillors across 11 councils.&nbsp;

The councils are Antrim and Newtownabbey; Ards and North Down; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; Belfast City; Causeway Coast and Glens; Derry City and Strabane, Fermanagh and Omagh; Lisburn and Castlereagh City, Mid and East Antrim; Mid Ulster; and Newry, Mourne and Down.&nbsp;

Councils in Northern Ireland are up for election and the results could be influential in whether the DUP drops its boycott of Stormont{ai:summary}<p>Local elections are taking place in Northern Ireland after power-sharing executive collapsed. Results key in determining if DUP will accept Brexit deal. 462 councillors across 11 councils up for election. #politics</p>

Northern Ireland local elections 2023: When are they and why are they significant?

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