In recent years the City of London embarked upon a
programme of reform which included its own legislation to
reform the City’s franchise, the City of London (Ward Elections)
Act 2002.
The provisions of the Act allowed the City of London to
extend the City’s franchise to a wide range of businesses and
organisations in the Square Mile. All qualifying bodies who occupy
premises in the City now receive a number of voting entitlements
based on the number of employees based at those premises. The basis
of entitlement is one voter for every five members of the workforce
up to 50 with an additional voter for every 50 thereafter.
As a result the number of business votes increased and the
proportion of residential votes to business votes changed. The City
of London also 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? – Postal voting |
How do people vote? – Voting in person |
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 8,000 residents
and 300,000 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?
March 2009 and every four years afterward. These are elections
for Common Councilmen only – not for the Greater London Authority,
UK or European Parliaments.
How do people vote? –
Postal voting
If a voter requires a postal vote they must complete an
application form (copies of which are available from the Electoral
Services Office) and return it to the Electoral Services
Office. The voter can choose whether to have their ballot
paper sent to their registered City address, or another address
(for example, their home address) but they must provide a reason
for doing so.
In the event of a contested election the voter will be sent a
ballot paper on which to register their vote. They will
also be sent a postal voting statement on which they must provide
their date of birth and signature. When this is
returned with their ballot papers, the Ward Clerk will validate
their details against their orginal application form. Postal
votes must be received by the Ward Clerk by 8:00 pm on the day of
the poll in order for them to be counted. Once they have requested
a postal vote they cannot vote ‘in person’ on polling day although
they can hand their ballot paper in to the polling station on the
day.
If the voter does not receive their postal vote, loses it,
or spoils it in any way, they may request another from the
Electoral Services Office but only before 5:00 pm on the day of the
poll.
How do people vote? - Proxy voting
If the voter is away on the day of the poll, they may appoint
somebody else to vote on their behalf. This person must be
qualified to vote themselves, and may only act as proxy for two
voters unless they are a close family member. The proxy will
be sent a poll card before the election telling them the location
and opening hours of the polling station.
If the voter is permanantly unable to vote in person for
medical, employment or educational reasons, they may appoint a
permant proxy but it must be signed by an authorised person.
'Emergency proxy'; if the voter suffers from a medical
incapacity after the closing date for appointing proxies for a
particular election, they may apply for an emergency proxy.
This must be supported by an authorised medical officer.
Copies of all proxy voting forms are available from the
Electoral Services Office.
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.
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.
| 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 be eligible as voters, persons must be 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 ward elections.
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.
- Do organisations have to use their full quota of votes?
No – that is up to the organisation concerned.
For further details please call the helpline on 0800 587 5537 or
email
electoralservices@cityoflondon.gov.uk.