A number of elections are being held from parish councils to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
All the south Essex county council seats are being contested as well as Southend, Basildon, Castle Point, Rochford and Thurrock council seats.
Elections take place at 143 English councils, with 19 expected to count overnight, with results due early on Friday.
In south Essex were are expected results from Southend Council and Rochford Council in the early hours of Friday.
There will also be results in the Essex County Council seats for Castle Point, Rochford and Brentwood.