Mayoral and city council elections only a month away

The elections for the role of Mayor of Greater Manchester and a third of the city council seats are only a month away. 

With the mayoral and city council elections taking place on 2 May, Manchester City Council is reminding those wanting to vote to ensure they are on the electoral register.

We really don’t want anyone who wishes to have their democratic say to miss out because they don’t have the right photo ID

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will once again be running to keep his mayoral role, a position he has held since 2017. If reelected he promises to introduce a new simpler, fairer fare structure for GM's Bee Network from January 2025 that will:

• Reduce the cost of a monthly by over £5

• Introduce a new half-price monthly for 18 to 21 year-olds

• Turn the £2/£1 single fare into a one-hour “Hopper”

Here's a handy explainer on the Mayoral election:

If you aren't already, you must be registered to vote by midnight on Tuesday 16 April.

• To vote in person at your designated polling station you must show valid photo ID of yourself. If you do not have any valid photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate instead. The deadline to apply for this certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April.
• The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 17 April. 
• To appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf at your designated polling station for the election on 2 May, you must do so online by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April. To appoint a permanent proxy to vote on your behalf due to a specific reason, a printed copy of our permanent proxy application form is needed.
• A full list of candidates will be published on Monday 8 April.

Meanwhile 33 of the council’s 96 seats are up for election – one in each of the city’s wards plus an additional vacancy in Didsbury East due to a councillor whose term had not yet expired standing down.  

To be able to vote, you must be on the electoral register. If you are not already registered, you can apply at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote 

The deadline for registration applications is Tuesday 16 April. 

Joanne Roney CBE, Returning Officer for Manchester, said: “With two sets of elections this year, we really don’t want anyone who wishes to have their democratic say to miss out because they don’t have the right photo ID, or have left it too late to register.  

“There are simple steps electors can take now, if they need to, to make sure they can vote in the Greater Manchester Mayoral and Manchester City Council elections. I’d encourage them to do so.” 

Counting for the Manchester City Council elections will take place on Friday 3 May and for the Greater Manchester Mayoral elections on Saturday 4 May. 

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