The council plans to bring in the new arrangements in May 2002. Demox s immediate task is to collect the signatures for a petition calling on the council to hold a referendum. Once we have 5,100 signatures, we will present the petition to the council and the council will have to hold a referendum within six months. The referendum will be binding on the council. For a referendum held in 2001, the first mayoral elections will be in May 2002.
Mayoral elections are by supplementary vote.
Under this system, voters indicate their first and second choice of candidate. After counting all of the first choices, all but the top two candidates are eliminated. Any of the eliminated candidates second preference votes cast for the top two candidates are added to the remaining candidates totals. The one with the most votes is then elected. The mayor will come into office four days after the election.