Londoners entering the polling booths on May 1 could be forgiven for feeling a bit confused.
Three different coloured ballot papers - one with a double vote - will be posted in a single box to elect a Mayor and 25 Assembly members, using three different electoral systems.
It may sound complex, but it is simpler than last time around. In 2004 Londoners were expected to make votes and drop four separate cards into colour co-ordinated boxes.
On that occasion, proceedings were complicated by a European Parliamentary election. But even without the MEP vote, the capital's electorate will have plenty of candidates to choose between.
On the mayoral front, those wanting to make their voice heard will be handed a pink ballot paper and allowed to cast two votes - for a first and second choice candidate.
Once the votes have been counted, the mayor is elected using the "supplementary vote" system.
If any candidate receives more than half of first choice votes, he or she is automatically elected.
But if there is no clear winner, the two leading "first choice" candidates go through to a second round. All other candidates are eliminated, but the second choice votes on their ballot papers are reviewed.
The surviving candidate with the most first and second choice votes is then elected mayor.
In the unlikely event of a dead heat, the returning officer decides the election by drawing lots.
The 25 members of the London Assembly will be decided by votes on two separate ballot papers.
A total of 14 seats will be decided upon on a constituency basis, with voters marking their choice on a yellow paper to decide who will represent their area.
The rest of the assembly will consist of London-wide members drawn from party lists and decided upon by proportional representation. Voting for this will be conducted on a peach ballot paper.
For a few thousand more electors there will be a further choice in London borough by-elections including contests in wards in Camden, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Tower Hamlets.
This will involve white ballot papers.
Copyright P.A.
Copyright P.A.
