Vote counting is under way in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election, with ballot papers being verified after polling closed in the contest to succeed Andy Burnham.
The by-election was triggered by Mr Burnham’s election to Parliament last month. After winning a seat at Westminster, he stood down as mayor, leaving the region’s top political office vacant and forcing an early vote to choose his replacement.
Counting officials are now working through the ballots cast across Greater Manchester. The count follows the close of the polls and will establish which candidate becomes mayor for the remainder of the term. A full breakdown of the results is expected to be published once all valid votes have been counted. Ballot papers from across the ten boroughs will be processed before the final result can be confirmed.
The vacancy arose because Mr Burnham could not continue in the mayoral role after taking up a seat in Parliament. His move to Westminster brought his time as mayor to an end, and the by-election was formally called to fill the post he had vacated.
Unlike a scheduled mayoral election, which takes place on an established electoral cycle, a by-election is held when a vacancy opens during a term. Because Mr Burnham left office after being elected to Parliament, voters were asked to go to the polls early to decide who would take his place.
Greater Manchester’s mayor is a directly elected position covering the ten metropolitan boroughs that make up the region. The office carries strategic responsibility for areas such as transport, housing and economic development, giving the winner a central role in shaping the region’s direction.
Voters across Greater Manchester have now cast their ballots, and attention has turned to the count. The result will determine who takes on the leadership of the region and serves out the rest of the mayoral term after Mr Burnham’s departure.
During the count, election officials will check ballot papers and ensure every valid vote is included in the final total. The result will be formally declared once the counting process has concluded. The new mayor will then take up the full range of responsibilities attached to the office, which have been vacant since Mr Burnham stood down.
The by-election follows directly from Mr Burnham’s move to Parliament last month and will decide the future leadership of one of the country’s largest metropolitan regions. The outcome will be confirmed when the count is complete and the result is announced.
