How the Mayor is elected
Voters in the election for the Mayor of London will have two
choices:
One for their first choice candidate
One for their second choice candidate.
Voters do not have to cast a second
choice vote but they must vote for their first choice candidate or
the whole ballot paper is rejected.
Once the votes have been counted, the Mayor is
elected using the "supplementary vote" system.
In this system, if a candidate receives more
than half of the first choice votes he or she is elected.
If this does not happen, the two candidates
with the most first choice votes go through to a second stage. All
the other candidates are eliminated but the second choice votes on
their ballot papers are reviewed. If they are for either of the top
two candidates these votes are added to their totals.
The candidate with the most first and
second choice votes wins. If there is a tie then the Greater London
Returning Officer draws lots.
This voting system is used to ensure the
candidate with the broadest amount of support from London is
elected.
Watch our animated guide to see how the
Mayoral results are calculated