How the supplementary voting system works and what to expect to see at the polls
The people of Greater Manchester will be heading out to the polls on Thursday to have their say on the region’s new mayor, but there is a change people should expect to see on the ballot paper.
The mayoral by-election comes after former mayor Andy Burnham won the hotly contested Makerfield seat, returning to Parliament where he launched a successful leadership challenge after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation.
After becoming the new prime minister, Mr Burnham has left a space for someone new to take over as the mayor of Greater Manchester.
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Polls will open at 7am on Thursday, July 30, and will remain open until 10pm the same day for people across all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs to head out and vote.
The votes will be counted the next day, with results expected on Friday, July 31.
This mayoral by-election will use supplementary voting, which is being used following recent changes in legislation. This system was used at the mayoral elections in 2017 and 2021, but not in 2024, which used first past the post.
Using supplementary voting means that residents have the opportunity to choose their first and second-choice candidate, rather than just ticking one box.
The image above has been supplied by GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and shows how to complete your ballot paper.
And here are some instructions from GMCA for the election:
- You have the opportunity to cast your vote for your first and second-choice candidate.
- Vote by putting a cross (X) in the box in Column A next to your FIRST-CHOICE candidate.
- Vote by putting a cross (X) in the box in Column B next to your SECOND-CHOICE candidate.
- Your first and second choices should be different.
- You must mark a first choice in Column A or your vote will not be counted.
- You do not have to mark a second choice.
How will the vote be counted
If any candidate gets more than 50% of the valid first-choice votes, then they will be elected as the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the contest will move to a second round between the two candidates who received the most first-choice votes.
Any remaining candidates are eliminated, and these ballot papers are counted again. Any valid second-choice votes cast for the two remaining candidates are then added to their first-choice totals.
The candidate who has the highest overall total of first and second-choice votes will be declared the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
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