With just two months until the West of England mayoral election, residents across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset are being reminded to register to vote before the April 11 deadline to have their say in shaping the region’s future. The West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which oversees transport, housing, economic growth, skills, and the environment, will elect a new mayor on Thursday, May 1.
This election could shape key decisions affecting around a million people, including public transport improvements and housing developments. Residents can vote in person, by post, or by proxy, but only if they are registered. Key deadlines include:
• Register to vote: Midnight, Friday, April 11
• Apply for a postal vote: 5pm, Monday, April 14
• Apply for a proxy vote: 5pm, Wednesday, April 23
• Apply for free voter ID (if needed): 5pm, Wednesday, April 23
Registration can be completed online here or via local electoral offices. For the second time since the introduction of the Elections Act 2022, voters must present valid photo ID at polling stations. Accepted forms of ID include:
• UK, EEA, or Commonwealth passports
• Driving licences (including provisional licences)
• Certain concessionary travel passes (such as older person’s or disabled person’s bus passes)
Voters can use expired ID as long as their photo remains recognisable. Those without an accepted form of ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate before Wednesday, April 23. More information is available here.
The government has announced plans to expand the list of accepted IDs to include the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card before the May election.
The upcoming election follows the decision by current Labour mayor Dan Norris not to seek re-election after winning a parliamentary seat in July 2024.
The political landscape is highly competitive, with different parties leading in different parts of the region. Candidates confirmed so far include:
• Helen Godwin (Labour): Former Bristol City Council cabinet member, pledging ‘reliable buses for every area’, more trains, and free travel for 16-19-year-olds.
• Heather Mack (Green Party): Deputy leader of Bristol City Council, advocating for a tram network to tackle congestion.
• Steve Smith (Conservative): Former Bristol councillor and ex-lord mayor, promising to boost economic growth.
• Liberal Democrats: Yet to announce a candidate, but speculation suggests someone from Bath & North East Somerset, where the party has been in power since 2019.
• Reform UK: Gaining popularity in recent months but has not yet confirmed a candidate.
The Combined Authority established in 2017 and covers Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath & North East Somerset. North Somerset could join in the future, but not before the 2025 election. The region is politically split, making this election difficult to predict.
In the July 2024 general election, Labour won the most votes across the area, followed by the Conservatives, Greens, and Liberal Democrats.
However, Labour’s national popularity has since declined, which could shift the balance. Aggregated votes from the last general election show:
• Labour: 160,425 votes
• Conservatives: 91,319 votes
• Greens: 86,326 votes
• Liberal Democrats: 77,471 votes
• Reform UK: 49,825 votes
Despite Labour’s past success, Bristol has seen a surge in Green Party support, while South Gloucestershire has swung between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives. Bath & North East Somerset has been under Lib Dem control since 2019.
One of the biggest challenges in the election will be low voter turnout as historically the turnout has been low in WECA elections. In the 2021 mayoral election, only 36.6% of eligible voters participated, and in 2017, turnout was just 29.7%. This is significantly lower than the 59.8% turnout in the July 2024 general election.
With a growing push for voter participation and the introduction of ID requirements, election officials are encouraging residents to check their registration status and prepare for polling day.
Election officials are urging voters to check their registration and prepare for photo ID requirements to avoid last-minute issues on polling day. For more details on registering to vote, visit here.