What Salford residents need to know ahead of Thursday’s mayoral by-election
Salford voters will head to polling stations on Thursday as Greater Manchester chooses a new mayor following the resignation of the region’s first directly elected incumbent. The vacancy arose after Andy Burnham stepped down when he was elected MP for Makerfield in June, prompting the by-election that will involve more than two million eligible voters across Greater Manchester.
Polling stations in Salford will open at 7am and close at 10pm. Ballot papers will be counted the following day, with officials saying the result is unlikely to be declared until the afternoon on Friday.
How the vote in Salford will be counted
This by-election differs from the last three mayoral contests in Greater Manchester because it will use the supplementary vote (SV) system rather than first-past-the-post. Under SV, electors are asked to record a first and a second choice on their ballot.
- If any candidate secures more than 50% of first-choice votes, they are declared the winner immediately.
- If no one reaches that threshold, all but the top two candidates are eliminated and the second-choice preferences from those eliminated ballots are reallocated to the remaining pair.
- Voters do not have to mark a second choice, but they must register a first preference for their vote to count.
The returning officers will therefore undertake two stages of counting if a majority is not achieved on first preferences: an initial tally of first-choice votes, followed by redistribution of second choices from eliminated candidates to determine the overall winner.
Candidates on the Salford ballot
Seven candidates will appear on the ballot paper. They are listed here in alphabetical order by surname as published for the by-election:
| Candidate | Party |
|---|---|
| Sian Astley | Reform UK |
| Geraldine Coggins | Green Party |
| Bev Craig | Labour |
| Phil Eckersley | Conservative Party |
| Marcus Farmer | Independent |
| Richard Kilpatrick | Liberal Democrats |
| Marlon West | Restore Britain |
Practical points for Salford residents
Residents should remember to bring an appropriate form of identification if required, check their polling location in advance and be aware of the hours when polling stations are open. Ballot papers will include space for both first and second choices; marking only a second choice without a first will render the vote invalid.
"If any candidate wins more than 50 per cent of the first-choice votes, they are declared the winner."
Those unable to attend in person can apply for a postal or proxy vote before the council deadlines. Results from the count are expected to be announced after counting concludes on Friday afternoon, once first- and, if necessary, redistributed second-preference totals have been calculated.
Why this matters to Salford
The Greater Manchester mayor holds significant responsibilities that touch on everyday life in Salford, including transport, strategic planning and devolved public services. The outcome will determine leadership for those areas and influence how regional policies affecting the city are prioritised in the months ahead.
With more than two million people across the conurbation eligible to vote, the by-election is the largest of its kind in UK history. For many Salford residents, the contest will be about who can best steer the city and the wider region through the challenges and opportunities facing Greater Manchester.
Polling day is Thursday; ballot papers must show a first preference to be counted, and voters who choose to use their second preference should do so carefully, understanding how the supplementary vote framework will be applied in the final tally.
