Electing the Mayor and Assembly
Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections take place every four years. The last elections took place in May 2021. The next Mayoral and London Assembly elections will take place on Thursday 2 May 2024.
Learn more about the currently elected Mayor and the 25 London Assembly members.
The London Elects website has lots of information about the elections.
Organising and overseeing the elections
There are three different ‘contests’ that make up GLA elections – and three different ballot papers for voters. These are for:
- the Mayor of London
- the 14 Members of the London Assembly that represent London’s 14 Constituencies
- the 11 Assembly Members that represent the whole of London (London-wide Members)
The Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) is responsible for overseeing the three contests, including the preparations for the poll and the counting of the votes. The GLRO is appointed by the Mayor but acts and takes decisions independently of the GLA – and is ultimately responsible to the courts. The GLRO is also the Chief Officer of the GLA - Mary Harpley.
The GLRO is supported by the London Elects team, based at and made up of staff from City Hall. London Elects works closely with a number of partners to deliver the elections, most importantly London’s boroughs and the 14 Constituency Returning Officers.
Registering to vote
You must be on the electoral register to vote in Mayor of London and London Assembly elections - and indeed any UK elections and referenda. You can register to vote online in just a few minutes using a simple form. You'll need to provide your National Insurance number, your date of birth and your address.
Standing as a candidate
If you are thinking of standing as either a Mayoral candidate or as a party/candidate in the London-wide Assembly Member election in May 2024, or you are the agent of someone who is thinking of standing, please have a look at the I’m A Candidate section of the London Elects site.
Closer to the elections, you will be able to register with London Elects and the team can keep you up to date and send you important information.
Constituency Returning Officers lead on liaison with Constituency Assembly Member candidates. Contact details can be found on the London Elects site.
Political transition
The four-yearly elections naturally bring changes to City Hall: there may be a new Mayor of London and there will be changes to the membership of the London Assembly. This means changes to our priorities and perhaps also a new political direction for City Hall.
Preparing for these changes is challenging and requires careful planning. The first Transition Guide (PDF) was published in February 2024. A second guide was published in April 2024.
The guide sets out at a high level the process we as officers follow in preparing for political transition. Its primary audience are those individuals and political parties – together with their campaign teams – seeking to be elected as Mayor or to the Assembly. It is also intended as a frame of reference for our staff.
The guide aims to contribute to a smooth political transition by:
- making that process clear and transparent to everyone involved and promoting shared understanding
- explaining the channels and nature of contact between candidates and our officers in the months leading up to the elections, which must be proportionate, impartial and of a factual basis
- informing candidates’ own preparations
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