Electoral system for local elections?

[DulwichLondoner]

I have always followed national politics very closely but I admit, shame on me, that I have never followed local politics as closely.

Can you please remind me how the electoral system for local elections works?

We get to choose 3 councilors and then the 3 with the most votes get elected?

Can, in theory at least, one vote for councillors belonging to different parties or must they all belong to the same party?

I had a look at

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors-and-mps

and https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-am-i-represented/local-council

but couldn't understand much about the details.

[Sue]

DulwichLondoner Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have always followed national politics very

> closely but I admit, shame on me, that I have

> never followed local politics as closely.

>

> Can you please remind me how the electoral system

> for local elections works?

>

> We get to choose 3 councilors and then the 3 with

> the most votes get elected?

>

> Can, in theory at least, one vote for councillors

> belonging to different parties or must they all

> belong to the same party?

>

>

> I had a look at

> https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy

> /councillors-and-mps

> and

> https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/how-am-i-represe

> nted/local-council

> but couldn't understand much about the details.

You can vote for whichever three candidates you like, provided they are standing in your area, obviously!

They could be from three different parties, if you wanted.

ETA: Sorry, just seen Renata's post below. It's three in my ward, I thought it was the same everywhere, but evidently not!

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi DulwichLondoner,

it depends on which ward you live in. Dulwich Wood, Dulwich Hill, Dulwich Village, Champion Hill and Peckham Rye Wards have only two slots for Councillors, so two Votes. Goose Green and Nunhead and Queens Road and most other wards have three.

Yes you are right, you have 2 or 3 votes and you vote for those candidates on the list. They may or may not be representatives of the same party, it's your choice. The 2 or 3 candidates with the highest vote get elected. They may or may not be from the same party.

I hope this makes sense!

Renata

[DulwichLondoner]

Understood - thanks!

[DulwichLondoner]

Do all councillors appoint the Mayor of Southwark and the Chief Executive?

Must the Mayor be an elected councillor?

Who calls the shots? Is the Mayor a mostly ceremonial role whereas the Chief Executive has real power?

[rendelharris]

The Mayoral role is totally apolitical, although yes s/he is selected by councillors. Not sure whether they have to be a councillor first. The Chief Executive is an administrative non-elected role; the leader of the council and his/her cabinet make the policy decisions, ratified by the council assembly when necessary.

[DulwichLondoner]

How are the leader of the council and the cabinet chosen?

[rendelharris]

DulwichLondoner Wrote:

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> How are the leader of the council and the cabinet

> chosen?

Leader selected by the members of the majority party (or a coalition agreement), cabinet members selected by the leader. It's basically Westminster in microcosm.

[Renata Hamvas]

The Mayor is a Councillor.

[DulwichFox]

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

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> The Mayor is a Councillor.

Currently Charlie Smith. Labour. I believe.

DulwichFox

[Renata Hamvas]

Yes, East Dulwich Labour Councillor Charlie Smith is the current Mayor.