London Assembly members have urged the government to delay the next City Hall election to avoid it clashing with the 2020 general election.
The UK’s move to fixed term parliaments means the next general election will coincide with elections for the Mayor and Assembly but AMs warn that the combination of elections, which between them use three different voting systems, could confuse voters.
There are also concerns about the practicality of holding so many elections on the same date and the ability to ensure results are declared in a timely fashion.
Elections to Scottish and Welsh devolved bodies have already been moved to avoid a clash and in May this site revealed the Cabinet Office had considered moving the London contest.
A review of this year’s election has been told that City Hall officials need urgent confirmation of the next London election date as venues and contractors need to be booked soon to ensure their availability.
Officials have also warned that having to change bookings at short notice would saddle taxpayers with significant costs.
In addition to calling for the election to be moved until October, or later, AMs say ministers should compensate Londoners if any delay in deciding the next election date results in such costs.
Assembly member Len Duvall AM said: “Given the scale and the different types of election methodology which apply, there really is no other option than to move the 2020 London elections to October, or later.”
