Yes, another one: Election day dawns in Bristol

Pledges have been made, debates played out and party heavyweights drafted in to canvas – it can only mean one thing, election time in Bristol.

Polling stations open across the city from 7am until 10pm on Thursday for people to cast their vote in no less than four different elections.

Voters in Bristol will be electing the next city mayor, as well as the West of England mayor, police & crime commissioner for Avon & Somerset, and local councillors.

As with most things in the current climate, the elections are likely to look a bit different to usual. Most – if not all – hustings have taken place online and polling stations will be laid out with Covid-19 safety measures that will include social distancing, limited numbers inside at a time and hand sanitisers.

People are asked to wear a mask unless they are exempt and can also bring their own pen or pencil.

Where and when to vote

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, May 6. All registered voters should have been sent poll cards with their local polling station listed.

You can only vote at the polling station stated on the card. Check this handy map to find your local polling station www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/polling-station-finder.

The deadline to vote by post has now passed but more people than usual are expected to have opted for a postal vote due to the pandemic. Only those registered are eligible to vote.

A Lib Dem sign in Hotwells – photo: Martin Booth

Bristol mayoral elections

There are nine candidates standing for the role of Bristol’s directly elected mayor.

According to the bookies, the top contenders are incumbent mayor Marvin Rees and Green Party challenger Sandy Hore-Ruthven.

Here are all nine candidates:

• Marvin Rees (Labour Party)
• Sandy Hore-Ruthven (Green Party)
• Caroline Gooch (Liberal Democrats)
• Alastair Watson (Conservative Party)
• Tom Baldwin (Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition)
• Robert Clarke (Reform UK)
• Sean Donnelly (independent)
• John Langley (independent)
• Oska Shaw (independent)

Read in-depth interviews with each of the candidates, pre-election coverage and hustings via www.bristol247.com/tag/bristol-mayoral-elections-2021/.

West of England Combined Authority (WECA) mayoral elections

Here, we just have a candidate from each of the four main parties represented in the all-male lineup.

Tory candidate Samuel Williams is hoping to step into the shoes of his Conservative predecessor Tim Bowles, who is standing down after just one four-year term. Bowles was the first to hold the regional position that was created following a referendum on devolution.

Standing against him is Labour’s Dan Norris, Jerome Thomas for the Greens and Lib Dem challenger Stephen Williams.

The person voted in to be the next metro mayor will represent the authority areas of Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset (BANES).

See what each has to say on key issues by watching the Bristol24/7 hustings above or read the highlights here.

Police & crime commissioner elections

There are five candidates battling it out to be elected as the next police & crime commissioner (PCC) for Avon & Somerset, tasked with providing a voice for the people and holding the force to account.

Independent incumbent Sue Mountstevens is standing down on Thursday. Those hoping to take on the role are: Kerry Barker for Labour, Green councillor and activist Cleo Lake, Lib Dem Heather Shearer, Mark Shelford for the Conservatives, and independent candidate John Smith.

Read more: Candidates for Avon and Somerset police and crime commissioner revealed

A Labour sign overlooking Owen Square Park in Easton – photo: Martin Booth

Local councillor elections

Elections will be held for all 70 council seats across Bristol’s 34 wards, with 293 candidates in the running.

Find out which is your ward via www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/polling-station-finder.

Find information on all of the candidates standing at www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/local-elections-thursday-6-may-2021/local-councillors-elections.

Read Bristol24/7’s ward profiles for coverage of every ward in the city and the issues that matter most.

A Green Party sign in Clifton – photo: Martin Booth

Voting system for each election

The Bristol mayor, WECA mayor and PCC elections all use the supplementary voting system.

Under this system, each person can cast two votes; one for their first-choice candidate and then one for their second-choice if they wish to use it.

Once the ballots are in, there’s potentially a two-stage process:

Stage one: First preference votes are counted. If a candidate receives more than 50 per cent of these first preference votes then they are elected and a result declared.

If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the first preference votes then the two candidates with the highest number of votes go forward to the second stage.

Stage two: The second preference votes are checked for the eliminated candidates. Any second preference votes for the remaining two candidates are added to the votes they received in stage one.

The candidate with the highest number of votes received after adding together the results from stages one and two is elected and a result is declared.

Bristol city councillors will be elected via the first past the post system. Each voter will have the option to cast as many votes as there are seats in their ward, so if there are two councillors for your ward, put a X next to the two people you most want to represent you.

When results will be declared

They are long-drawn-out affairs this set of elections so don’t expect to know any results immediately.

Once polls close at 10pm on Thursday, teams will be working into the early hours to verify the ballots from all of the four elections taking place.

On Friday, the declaration of the next Avon & Somerset PCC is expected.

Saturday will see the counting and results for the Bristol mayor and WECA mayor.

The new WECA mayor is expected to be declared sometime in the morning or early afternoon, with the announcement taking place on the SS Great Britain.

The announcement of the next mayor of Bristol is due to take place on Saturday afternoon.

Then on Sunday, all of the 70 councillors elected across the city’s 34 wards will be declared, with the counts taking place in three different locations.

The government has issued guidance for anyone who has Covid-19 symptoms or has been asked to self-isolate.

Do not visit a polling station, apply for an emergency proxy vote instead up until 5pm on Thursday. Details are available via www.gov.uk/how-to-vote.

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: Meet the people standing to become the next Bristol mayor