The election for the next mayor is rapidly approaching, and in order to be able to cast your vote in this election you need to ensure that you are registered to vote. This article attempts to give you a quick overview on how to register & why registering and voting is important!
Who can vote?
You are eligble to vote in this election if:
- a British citizen
- an EU citizen resident in the UK
- a qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK
What does the Mayor & London Assembly do?
The Mayor of London
The Mayor is responsible for making London a better place for everyone who visits, lives or works in the city. The job ranges from developing policies to setting budgets, from overseeing major programmes to championing London around the world – all in line with his or her vision and in the interests of London.
The London Assembly
The London Assembly acts as the eyes and ears of Londoners at City Hall. It holds the Mayor to account by examining his or her strategies, decisions and actions to make sure they are in the public interest. Assembly Members also champion Londoners’ concerns by investigating important issues and pressing for changes to national, Mayoral or local policy.
What they are responsible for
There are many areas of London life that are affected by the work of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly, such as policing, transport, housing, planning and the environment. The Mayor plays a key role by putting together plans and policies and running and funding projects. Before finalising his or her major strategies the Mayor must consult with Londoners and their elected representatives on the London Assembly.
When do I need to register by?
To vote in the London Mayor elections you need to register by 18 April.
How do I register?
You can register online, which usually takes about 5 minutes.
Register here: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
*If you are a student living in halls you will need to register as changes to voter registration mean that you are no longer automatically registered.
When is the election?
The election will take place on 5 May.
Who can I vote for?
As well as electing the Mayor of London, you also will have the opportunity to elect 14 consituency London Assembly Members, and 11 London-wide Assembly Members.
Mayor of London - who's who:
There are 12 candidates for the role of Mayor of London, voters have the opportunity to make a first and second choice from the list of candidates.
- BERRY, Sian Rebecca - Green Party
- FURNESS, David - British National Party
- GALLOWAY, George - Respect (George Galloway)
- GOLDING, Paul - Britain First - Putting British people first
- GOLDSMITH, Zac - The Conservative Party Candidate
- HARRIS, Lee Eli - Cannabis is Safer Than Alcohol
- KHAN, Sadiq Aman - Labour Party
- LOVE, Ankit - One Love Party
- PIDGEON, Caroline Valerie - London Liberal Democrats
- WALKER, Sophie - Women's Equality Party
- WHITTLE, Peter Robin - UK Independence Party (UKIP)
- ZYLINSKI, Prince - Independent
To find out more and view their mini-manifestos, as well as finding out more about Assembly Members please follow this link
