Types of election, referendums, and who can vote

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Local mayors, Mayor of London and London Assembly

Elected local mayors

In some areas of England voters elect a mayor.

Check if your mayor is elected on your local council website.

Mayors are elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor.

To vote for a local mayor, you must be eligible to vote in local elections.

Mayor of London and London Assembly

The Mayor of London makes decisions on behalf of the people of London. The 25 London Assembly Members make sure the Mayor’s decisions are in the interests of the public.

To vote in the London Mayor and London Assembly elections you must:

  • be registered to vote
  • be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
  • be a British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or EU citizen
  • be resident at an address in Greater London
  • not be legally excluded from voting

The Mayor of London is elected using the First Past the Post system. You vote once for a candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes mayor.

London Assembly members are elected using the Additional Member system. You vote once for your constituency member and once for a London-wide representative.

There are 14 constituency members and 11 London-wide members.

Read more about the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections on the Electoral Commission website.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of Vote in UK elections

  1. Step 1 Check if you can vote

    1. Check which elections you can vote in

  2. Step 2 Register to vote

    You need to register to vote in elections and referendums. You need to register again if you have changed your name, address or nationality.

    1. Register to vote online
    1. Register to vote using a paper form

  3. Step 3 Decide if you want to vote in person, by post, or by proxy

    1. Find out the different ways you can vote

  4. Step 4 Get ready to vote in person

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact your local electoral registration office to find your polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility needs.

    1. Contact the local electoral registration office

  5. or Apply for a postal vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    You must apply no later than 5pm, 11 working days before the election.

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland

  6. or Apply for a proxy vote

    In England, Scotland or Wales:

    You must apply by 5pm, at least 6 working days before polling day.

    1. Apply in Northern Ireland

  7. or Get ready to vote as a proxy

    1. Check what ID you need to vote

    Contact the local electoral registration office of the person you are a proxy for to find their polling station or to find out what to do if you have accessibility issues.

    1. Contact the local electoral registration office

  8. Step 5 Vote in person

    1. Vote in person

  9. or Vote by post

    1. Vote by post

  10. or Vote as a proxy for someone else

    1. Vote as a proxy for someone else