How Do London Assembly Elections Work? A Complete Guide

London is one of the most important cities in the world: first for its designation as a global city, then for its remarkable culture and economy. London is important to so many people, not just through its economic or cultural makeup, whoever the current mayor is or not; rather, importance also arises from politics. Although a number of the population in London are aware of the identity of the mayor, they are also aware of the Assembly and its election process. The assembly is essential to maintaining transparency, holding the mayor accountable, and speaking for the people of London. Whether you are an elector, a student of politics, or just curious about how democracy functions in the U.K., or simply interested in how democracy works in the capital of the U.K.

What is the London Assembly?

The London Assembly is an elected body of 25 members who work ‘alongside’ the Mayor of London. The Assembly was formed in 2000 alongside the establishment of the Greater London Authority (GLA). The elected mayor and assembly govern London at a strategic level within the GLA. The mayor has to do with making strategic policies for transport, policing, housing, and the environment; the assembly holds him to account.

Why Are London Assembly Elections Important?

London Assembly elections are important because they provide Londoners with a voice in policy-making affecting the city. The Assembly:

1. Reviews and challenges the mayor’s decisions.
2. Affects how funding is spent on services like public transport and policing.
3. Holds inquiries about issues that affect Londoners’ everyday lives.
4. Represents different London communities as constituency members and London-wide members.

In short, the Assembly is to make sure the Mayor’s power isn’t absolute and the policies are in line with Londoners’ varied needs.

How Often Do London Assembly Elections Take Place?

Every four years, the Mayor of London and the London Assembly will be chosen. This is a part of the London elections since the London Assembly and mayoral elections take place on the same day. The last elections were in May 2021, with the elections being postponed in 2020 due to COVID-19. The next elections will be in May 2024, and all Londoners with the right to vote will have the chance to vote for both the Mayor and Assembly Members (AMs).

Who Can Vote in London Assembly Elections?

Not everyone that’s living in London can vote in the London Assembly elections. London Assembly elections have specific criteria for the requirements of voters:

1. You have to be at least 18 years old on the date of the election.
2. You have to be either a British national, a qualified Commonwealth citizen, or a European Union resident living in London.
3. To vote at your London address, registration is required.

The process is easy; registering is absolutely vital. Even if you are qualified, you cannot participate in the election without first registering.

How Many Members Are Elected?

Twenty-five Assembly Members (AMs) make up the London Assembly:

1. Fourteen Constituency AMs: Every one is a geographical constituency among London’s 14, spanning all boroughs. Voters in those regions choose them straight.
2. 11 London-wide AMs: Selected a proportional representation method to guarantee more political representation, these stand for the whole city.

The Assembly is distinctive since it combines London-wide views with local needs, balancing local concerns with broader ones.

Which Voting System is Used?

London Assembly elections employ a mixed electoral approach known as the Additional Member System (AMS). First Past the Post (FPTP) for constituency seats, with Proportional Representation (PR) for London-wide seats, are combined in this.

Here’s how it works:

1. First Past the Post Constituency Vote
2. Voters pick a candidate to represent their district.
3. The contestant with the most votes prevails.
4. Fourteen of them are constituency seats.
5. London-Wide Proportional Representation
6. Voters select a political party from a list as well.
7. Based on their share of votes, parties are assigned the 11 London-wide seats.

These seats are allocated fairly among parties by means of the D’Hondt formula. By guaranteeing that smaller parties get representation, this mechanism counteracts the predominance of bigger ones.

How do voters submit their ballots?

Londoners get three ballot papers when they vote:

1. Pink Ballot Paper for the Mayor of London
2. Yellow Ballot Paper: For the Member of their Constituency Assembly.
3. Orange Ballot Paper: For a London-wide Assembly Member (party list).

With this three-vote method, Londoners may choose the mayor, their regional Assembly delegate, and the general party representation in the Assembly.

How are the London-wide seats distributed?

The D’Hondt algorithm is employed for the 11 London-wide seats under the proportional representation scheme. Here is a simplified explanation of the approach:

1. Counting each party’s entire votes on the orange ballot.
2. The proportional allocation of that party is reduced by the number of constituency seats already won. 
3. Then the formula divides the votes by the already secured seats plus one.
4. The party with the highest result gets the next London-wide seat.
5. This will continue until all 11 of the seats have been allocated by this formula.

This system creates fairer opportunities for smaller parties and stops larger parties from dominating both constituency and London-wide seats.

The Role of Political Parties

At a London Assembly election, political parties are key. Larger parties like Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party usually dominate. The proportional element: smaller parties like UKIP (not so long ago) and newer parties can also win seats if they win a proportionate amount of capital votes.

Parties put together lists of candidates for the London-wide vote. If the party wins any London-wide seats, they will fill them off of that list from the top down.

How is the Mayor of London connected to the Assembly? 

The mayor is also elected separately, but the importance of the London Assembly is to hold the mayor to account. The Assembly :

1. Reviews the mayor’s proposed budget
2. The mayor questions (once a month at least during a session called ‘Mayor’s Question Time’).
3. Can reject or amend budget proposals if agreed to by two-thirds of members.
4. Investigates policies through committees covering areas such as policing, transport, and housing.
5. Ensuring accountability for the mayor’s power and decision-making transparently.

What Happens After the Elections?

Once the count is done and the results are announced:

1. Confirm the 14 constituency AMs.
2. Then calculate and assign the 11 London-wide AMs to parties.
3. Together, they are the London Assembly for the next 4 years.
4. Then they begin their work of scrutinizing the mayor and representing Londoners.

Elections can come with a different political balance of power. If a party holds an overwhelming ratio of AMs, for example, it may be easier or harder for the mayor (perhaps, for example, being of the same party) to pass budgets and policies, etc. 

Looking back again at previous elections helps put an example of how elections can vary in political representation.  

Labour and Conservative held the constituency seats in 2016, while other parties had gained representation through the London-wide vote, with the Greens and Liberal Democrats also gaining some representation. Labour had the most Assembly seats overall in 2021, and again, smaller parties, such as the Green Party, for example, gained seats through London-wide elections, so that there is some representation for other political voices.

These results demonstrate how critical proportionate representation is for London’s political balance.

Why Should Londoners Care About Assembly Elections?

Many Londoners are most concerned with the mayoral race, but the Assembly should carry equal weight. Here’s why:

1. It holds the mayor to account.
2. It represents different political viewpoints.
3. It has the power to influence decisions regarding transport fares, housing development, policing, and environmental matters.
4. Furthermore, it provides smaller parties and independent voices a platform.

In short, the Assembly is London’s democratic check, so we need to understand the importance of its elections.