The mayoral by-election in Greater Manchester will take place on Thursday, July 30, with polls open from 7am to 10pm across all 10 boroughs. The votes will be counted the next day, and results are expected on Friday, July 31.
This election uses the supplementary voting system, a change from the first-past-the-post system used in the 2024 election. Supplementary voting was previously used in 2017 and 2021.
How to Vote
Voters have the opportunity to choose a first-choice candidate and a second-choice candidate. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has provided the following instructions:
- 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.
Counting the Votes
If any candidate receives more than 50% of the valid first-choice votes, they are elected as mayor. If no candidate achieves this, the contest moves to a second round between the two candidates with the most first-choice votes. All other candidates are eliminated, and their ballot papers are re-examined. Any valid second-choice votes cast for the two remaining candidates are added to their first-choice totals. The candidate with the highest total of first and second-choice votes is declared the winner.
