Forum Topic

London Mayoral Election 2021

From the BBC A "confusing" ballot paper is being blamed for a record number of rejected ballots in the mayor of London election.With only half the votes counted 56,358 first preference votes have been rejected - roughly 5% of the total votes counted.The mayor of London is elected on a Supplementary Vote system, where each voter can choose a first and second preference for mayor.This year's figure is just short of the current record for the highest number of rejected ballots in the 2004 mayoral election, when 56,874 first preference votes were rejected, roughly 3% of the total votes that year.Official figures show 47,091 votes were rejected this year because too many votes were cast.This year saw a record-breaking 20 candidates stand to become mayor of London.Professor Tony Travers, from the LSE Department of Government, said: "We already knew from previous elections that many people find the two preference opportunity in this election confusing."It would appear that this time the number of people using their vote wrongly, and therefore getting the whole vote not counted, is going to be even higher than last time."The whole purpose of voting is that everybody knows that their vote counts equally – that’s how the system works."Mary Harpley, who as Greater London Returning Officer has been in charge of running the mayoral election, said: "We know that the supplementary vote system used to elect the mayor of London can result in spoilt ballot papers.“In order to help London’s voters this year, we published clear ‘how to vote’ information in the booklet sent to every registered voter, in postal vote packs and on our website, worked in conjunction with major media organisations to run voter education information and supplied polling station staff with explanation notes to pass onto voters.“However, the record number of 20 mayoral candidates in 2021 made it necessary to split the Mayoral ballot paper into two sections.“The government intends to move to a first past the post system for the mayor of London election in 2024.”

Bernard Allen ● 1997d33 Comments

I wonder what they did to spoil their ballot? Maybe put both crosses in column A? I have friends who felt so confident Kahn would win, they opted for the Green Party or BinFace as their first choice, and Sadiq Khan as their second. If that hasn’t worked out, then that’s politics!I don’t really think the process was too complicated.

Kerry Chandler ● 1997d

I also wondered how so many spoiled their ballot papers.It wasn’t confusing or hard to understand, some could be new voters, but that amount sound as though people who have never voted before mess it up.

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

Having two columns of names, each with A and B options was confusing. I suspect people voted for 4 candidates or put both marks in column A. It would have been easier to mark “1” and “2” in a single column. Electronic voting would have prevented a lot of mistakes.

Ed Saper ● 1997d

Why don't they use some advertising space to show viewers how to complete the forms as this is an ongoing problem.

Janice Evans ● 1997d

I think Ed's idea is easier than the A and B columns.

Philippa Bond ● 1997d

At my polling station we were asked if we wanted the voting explained to us and how to vote was made absolutely clear. I wasn’t quite clear on the London Assembly voting as one paper had candidates named on them and the other just had parties, but I knew that only one ballot paper (the one for the London Mayor) had a transferable preference vote.So pleased that Brian Rose got fewer votes than so many other of the candidates.

Andrew Jones ● 1997d

A FPTP system would be a step backwards. We need more supplementary vote systems, not fewer.I voted by post and my mayoral ballot paper wasn't split into two sections.

Susan Kelly ● 1997d

Once upon a time there were just names on the ballot paper - you had to do you homework in order to know which candidate was in your preferred party.

Vivienne Cox ● 1997d

I do not believe what I am reading. The ballot papers were very easy to understand; particularly if voters had taken the trouble to read the prelimanary paoerwork that was distributed a few days before voting day. It was very straightforward.

Mike Preece ● 1997d

Good to see Sadiq with a convincing win over the other candidates. Obviously the anti-LTN message didn’t resonate with voters.

Alex Muller ● 1997d

Looking at the number of second preference votes that went to Sadiq a FPTP system would seem to benefit the conservatives. Perhaps that’s why this government want to reintroduce it. Did Labour get more 2nd preferences in previous mayor elections?

David Turner ● 1997d

The thread isn’t about that Alex, is about the vast amount of rejected ballot papers. Which could be detrimental in a close run race.Official figures show 47,091 votes were rejected this year.

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

Yep a good sign the current improvements are not only here to stay but should expand. 

John Hall ● 1997d

It is not about difficulty understanding. It is about ease of navigation.

Philippa Bond ● 1997d

Of a city of nearly 9.5 million Khan got just over 1 million votes. What kind of mandate is that? I voted against Khan's despicable ULEZ he proposes infesting over the whole of Greater London. We all know there are nuanced more motorist-friendly ways to tackle pollution than to keep clobbering motorists. As for the ballot I asked an official in the ballot room about voting for the same candidate for first and then second preferences. She advised not to as one of the columns may not be counted.

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1997d

Mr Hall you are obviously trying to turn this thread into another slanging match over what LBOH has not achieved over 2020.You are obviously not concerned that a lot of the current electret we’re unable to fill in a simple voting form.Let’s hope in the next four years someone will be able to design a ballot paper that fool proof.Or rerun the election

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

“What kind of a mandate is that?”  A larger mandate than Boris got in either of his two terms as Mayor.

Tom Pike ● 1997d

Might have been a bigger mandate if the 47,0000 + ballot papers weren’t spoiled

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

At the risk of displaying my metropolitan elitism, the problem may not be the form.

Kerry Chandler ● 1997d

You mean it could just be a load of Chiswick dipsticks

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

Well, yeah, we can’t rule that out!

Kerry Chandler ● 1997d

According to the National Literacy Trust 16% of adults in the UK are considered to be 'functionally illiterate'. In addition, literacy levels are falling among the younger generations and 1 in 5 adults struggle to read and write.This is a real problem for any electoral system. Functional illiteracy has to be taken into account when designing the forms.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1997d

Think having to read a book before filling in a form makes it even more confusing for some.

Janice Evans ● 1997d

I have just been informed that the postal forms  I filled in were much simpler to the forms at the polling station so I apologise for saying all the ballot form were easy.As the postal forms were easier to fill in why weren’t they used at polling stations.

Bernard Allen ● 1997d

Bernard, think everyone was offered postal vote because of Covid butmany never request it.

Janice Evans ● 1997d

Just under 6.2 million registered to vote, 42% turnout. About the same level of turnout as in Hartlepool.l think, given the restrictions on campaigning, which weren't eased until four weeks before polling day turnout was good.

David McLoughlin ● 1997d

Just having a look at the Assembly results. Hounslow (South West) returned a Conservative while Ealing returned a Labour member. We could call it the Chiswick Split.

Susan Kelly ● 1996d

SK won mayoral election again. What has that soundbite mayor ever done for London other than make a mess of everything. Crime at an all-time high ULEZ, CC, increases ULEZ zone being widened. The limp handshake left have won again London is being decimated by the left and it’s sad that this moron has been voted back in as mayor. At least Ken Livingstone was a decent guy albeit a labour man.

c james ● 1996d

"At least Ken Livingstone was a decent guy..."Good grief !

Richard Greenhough ● 1996d

Sadiq Khan isn't particularly Left just as Keir Starmer isn't either, or that Khan's London voting supporters are especially Left as well remembering London is around a huge 44% of ethnic diverse groups likely wholly to have supported Sadiq Khan, although judging by social media comments not entirely. Khan did a daily round of so many different diverse groups making sure to give good wishes to their numerous religious and cultural festival upon festivals peppering London communities during Sadiq Khan's mayoral Ramadan campaigning. In one north London Mosque Friday Prayers attendance he gave pretty much a political address against a backdrop of, one has to say, what looked like kitchen tiles arrayed inferiorly to be Islamic. Khan's ULEZ will hit 'little Londoners' and small businesses more than most. If Sadiq Khan was at all truly Left he would have taken his cash-cow ULEZ hitting the 'little people' into account. As it is un-ULEZ cars like my 2006 diesel bought at time diesel was recommended and from new has only just clocked 30,000 miles in 15 yrs, which is nothing and probably has 'emitted' less than other more recently recommended fuelled vehicles that have travelled 1000s of miles more than my diesel in less years than non-diesel vehicles. My car is still a very good reliable runner. To have to scrap it and then find 1000s of £s I can ill afford is galling in the extreme. Am I being selfish in not being nice about London emissions and fretting about having to fork-out for a new  or replacement motor? I'm of the opinion there are more nuanced, if un-cash-cow methods, to tackle London's pollution issues.

Bobbie Carnegie ● 1996d

cj: "[London] Crime at an all-time high"I'm not saying it isn't, but since such references as I can find suggest that this is not so, I would be interested in your evidence for same.(The evidence for  your assertion that Ken Livingstone was "a decent guy" can wait...)

Richard Cathcart ● 1996d

Bobbie, Why don’t you put your make & model of car with its low mileage into autotrader and see how much it’s worth.  Eg I’ve just seen a BMW 06 320d for 6k and a 07 335d for 12k. For the right car people (outside london) will travel to buy -  my wife once travelled from Yorkshire to Kent just to look at a fiat 500 (which she bought).

David Turner ● 1996d

Just been reading about the coming together of the Liberals, Greens and Tories on the London Assembly. Seems like Labour hadn't realised that the other three parties together could make life difficult for Khan when they ignored them. Life will be difficult for the little Twerp now. Thank you God!

peter king ● 1991d