Ministers want new voting system in place for possible Manchester mayor race

Ministers are accelerating implementation of a new voting system for Greater Manchester mayoral elections to ensure it is available if an election is triggered this year. The plan replaces First Past the Post with the Supplementary Vote system. Under Supplementary Vote, voters select a first and second choice. If no candidate exceeds 50% after first preferences, the top two candidates enter a second round, using second preferences from eliminated candidates. The system previously applied to police and crime commissioners and mayors until 2022, when elections moved to FPTP. After the 2024 general election, a Labour government law reintroduced Supplementary Vote for mayors and police and crime commissioners. The change was expected after May 2026, but a potential resignation could require an election sooner. The government is seeking parliamentary approval for all scenarios and aims for the change to be in force by 19 June.

"Ministers are speeding up the implementation of a new voting system to ensure it will be in place in the event of mayoral election in Greater Manchester this year. The changes would see a switch from First Past The Post (FPTP) - used in general elections - to the Supplementary Vote system. Under the Supplementary Vote system, voters get to choose a first and second choice. If no single candidates wins more than 50% of the vote share after first preference votes are counted, the top two candidates go into a run-off second round in which second preference votes from the eliminated candidates are taken into account."

"This system was in place for police and crime commissioners and mayors until 2022, when it was switched to FPTP, under which there is one round and the candidate with the most votes wins. The Conservative government at the time argued that FPTP was a "fair and simple" system which ensured "clearer accountability". After winning the 2024 general election, the Labour government passed a law reintroducing the Supplementary Vote for elections for mayors and police and crime commissioners."

"The change been expected to come into place after May 2026 in time for the next set of elections due in May 2027. However, if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield constituency, he will have to resign from his role as Greater Manchester Mayor, immediately triggering a new election for the role. In a written statement, the government said it was "taking action to seek parliamentary approval to deliver that change in all scenarios"."

"Local Government Minister Samantha Dixon said: "The government is conscious that there is now a possible scenario in which a mayoral election may need to be held in Greater Manchester in the coming months, subject to the outcome of the parliamentary by-election in the Makerfield constituency." She said the government hoped the change could be in force by 19 June"

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