South Yorkshire Mayoral Elections - Everything you need to know
The newly elected Mayor – working together with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board - makes decisions which affect the lives of the 1.4 million people across our region, overseeing funding which is used to help create jobs, grow the economy, boost skills, support our public transport network and develop new infrastructure and homes here in South Yorkshire.
The Mayor’s functions will also now include those formerly held by the Police and Crime Commissioner. This includes holding the Chief Constable to account, overseeing a separate policing budget and publishing a police and crime plan for South Yorkshire.
It is important that everyone makes their vote count and has their say on who should be elected as the next Mayor of South Yorkshire.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board is chaired by the Mayor of South Yorkshire and is made up of the Mayor and the four Council Leaders from Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the election for the next Mayor of South Yorkshire.
When is polling day and how can I vote?
South Yorkshire will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May between 7am and 10pm
You can choose to vote in person at your local polling station, by post or by proxy. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is by 5pm on Wednesday 17 April and by 5pm on Wednesday 24 April for a proxy vote.
If you’re not already registered to vote, the deadline to do so is by 11.59pm on 16 April 2024. You can register online at gov.uk/register-to-vote or by contacting your local Council Electoral Office.
Voters in England need to show an accepted form of photo ID to vote at polling stations. Check if you have the correct ID, or how you can apply for free voter ID online at electoralcommission.org.uk or by contacting your local Council Electoral Office.
A full list of acceptable forms of voter ID will also be on your polling card.
The results of the South Yorkshire Mayoral election will be declared on Saturday 4 May.
What is the role of the Mayor?
The Mayor is elected to represent 1.4 million residents in the region. The Mayor acts to promote South Yorkshire as a place to live, work, visit and invest.
The Mayoral Combined Authority has powers and funding which are used to help create jobs, grow the economy, up-skill the workforce, support the public transport network and develop new infrastructure and homes in South Yorkshire.
Many decisions are made by the MCA and Mayor together, but the Mayor can make some decisions independently.
From May 2024 the Mayor will take on the functions of the Police and Crime Commissioner and be able to appoint a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime to assist. This role includes listening to the needs of communities, securing victim support services, setting police and crime priorities, and holding the Chief Constable to account.
The Mayor also has the ability to bring together partners across the region to maximise the collective impact of those partners.
For more information about the South Yorkshire Mayoral Election, please visit the website here or call 0808 178 6767.