Unlike elsewhere in the UK, businesses, as well as residents,
can register to vote in local elections. Residents can register to
vote (as long as their eligible), sole traders and equity partners
can register, and other businesses and organisations can nominate
electors based on the size of their workforce.
The City of London ensured that the residential predominance of
the four residential Wards of Aldersgate, Cripplegate, Portsoken
and Queenhithe was maintained.
Who are people voting for in ward elections?
| Why does the City have a different voting
system to other areas? | What is the City of
London? | What do elected Common Councilmen
do? | What is an Alderman? |
What about the position of residents? |
When are the next ward elections? |
How do people vote? – Voting in person
How do people vote? – Postal voting |
What happens if the election in a ward is
uncontested? | Appointing voters |
Eligibility criteria
Who are people voting for in ward
elections?
They are voting for candidates to represent them, or the
organisation for which they work, in the Court of Common Council –
the decision making body of the City of London.
The City is made up of 25 wards, or areas, and each elects one
Alderman and a number of Common Councilmen (the number depending on
the size of the ward) to represent it. However, in ward elections
they only vote for Common Councilmen – there are separate elections
for Aldermen.
Maps of the City’s wards can be viewed here
Why does the City have a
different voting system to other areas?
The City comprises just over one square mile but within that
area the City of London Corporation serves around 9,000 residents
and 340,000 workers. The City is the only area in the country in
which the number of workers significantly outnumbers the residents
and therefore, to be truly representative of its population, offers
a vote to City organisations so they can have their say on the way
the City is run.
What is the City of London?
The City of London provides local government and other services
for the 'Square Mile'. These include economic development,
education, environmental health, highways management, housing,
libraries, the Barbican Arts Centre, policing, social services,
street cleaning and waste collection and town planning. Although in
many ways it is like an ordinary local council, the City of London
is unique because of its vigorous promotion of the business City in
the UK and abroad. In addition it provides many services from its
own investments, at no cost to the public, such as the Central
Criminal Court, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, wholesale
markets, the five City bridges and open spaces like Epping Forest
and Hampstead Heath.
What do elected Common Councilmen
do?
They sit on the different committees that discuss and make
decisions on the day-to-day activities and projects of the City of
London. The crucial issues that arise from these committees go on
to be debated in the Court of Common Council – a monthly meeting of
all Common Councilmen and Aldermen chaired by the Lord Mayor.
Common Councilmen cover a wide range of professions and City
interests but do not represent any political party.
What is an Alderman?
The Alderman is the senior Member of a ward and also sits in the
Court of Aldermen which has historic functions such as approving
people for Freedom of the City and approving the formation of new
livery companies. The Lord Mayor is drawn from the ranks of the
Aldermen. There are separate arrangements for Aldermen whereby they
face re-election every six years.
What about the position
of residents?
The position of residents has been secured following a review of
the City’s ward boundaries. This ensured that the resident
population is concentrated in four wards so that their influence is
not diminished by business votes in those wards.
When are the next ward
elections?
For Common Councilmen, elections are held every four
years. The next are due in March 2013. Aldermanic elections
are held as required, as Aldermen serve a term of six years.
These are elections for Aldermen and Common Councilmen only – not
for the Greater London Authority, UK or European Parliaments.
How do people vote? – Voting
in person
They will be sent a poll card shortly before the election. This
will contain their name, address, elector number, the date and time
of the election and also the location of the polling station where
they can vote.
How do people vote? – Postal voting
View further information including a
copy of the application form.
How do people vote? - Proxy voting
View further information including a
copy of the application form.
What happens if the election in a
ward is uncontested?
If the number of candidates nominated equals the number of
places vacant those candidates are returned. However, irrespective
of whether or not there is a contest in an individual ward, a
meeting known as a ‘wardmote’ is held. At this meeting the voters
in the ward have the opportunity to meet and question the
candidates and raise issues with them. All registered voters will
be written to individually to inform them of the time and date of
the wardmote, and poll, if required.
Appointing voters
How organisations can take part in ward elections
- Partnerships or sole traders
People who are equity partners of firms (without limited liability)
or sole traders in the City will have the right to vote provided
they are at least 18 years old and a citizen of the UK or other
Commonwealth or European Union country on 1 September in the year
prior to the elections. They must actually work at the premises for
at least some of the time.
- Incorporated or unincorporated bodies
Any incorporated or unincorporated body can appoint voters to take
part in the City of London ward elections as long as they
physically occupy premises in the City on the qualifying date of 1
September in the year prior to the ward elections. This includes
banks, insurance companies, stock brokers and other financial
institutions, limited liability partnerships, charities, trade
associations, livery companies, churches and other religious
bodies, and hospital trusts. The number of voters they can appoint
depends on the size of their workforce on 1 September as
follows.
| Size of workforce |
Entitlement |
| 1 to 9 |
1 |
| 10 |
2 |
| 25 |
5 |
| 50 |
10 |
| 100 |
11 |
| 200 |
13 |
| 500 |
19 |
| 1,000 |
29 |
| 2,000 |
49 |
| 3,500 |
79 |
Eligibility criteria
To vote in City elections, voters must first be registered on
the Ward Lists. Registered voters must be over the
age of 16 (but can only vote once they are 18) and a
citizen of the UK or other Commonwealth or European Union country
on 1 September in the year prior to the publication of the Ward
Lists.
They must also be a member of staff since 1 September and whose
main place of work is the City premises of the organisation which
is appointing them
- or be a member of the Board of Directors or equivalent since 1
September
- or have worked exclusively for the organisation for a total of
5 years or more, at some time during their working career, and
either still work in the City or have done so within the last 5
years
- or have worked mainly in the City for 10 years or more,
regardless of the organisation, at some time during their working
career and still do so or have done within the last 5
years.
People are eligible to vote in the City’s elections even if they
are also registered to vote at their home address as long as they
do not live in the City. Voters appointed must, as far as is
reasonable, reflect the composition of the organisation’s workforce
and the appointment process should be open and clear.
- Can you vote in the City as well as at home?
Yes - provided you do not live in the City.
- If you live in the City can you vote twice in City
elections?
No.
- Can one person have all the nominated votes?
No.
- Can staff at all levels vote?
Yes – as long as each meet the criteria.
- Does this mean they become a Member of the City of
London?
No – they are simply voting to elect Members of the Corporation. If
they wish to stand as a candidate for election, they should contact
the Electoral Registration Office.
- Are voters appointed by a qualifying body free to exercise
their vote as they wish?
Yes – the vote is a secret ballot just like all other
elections.
For further details please call the helpline on 0800 587 5537 or
email
electoralservices@cityoflondon.gov.uk
.