Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Commission provides on how many local electors are needed to request the Proper Office to hold a by-election to fill a casual vacancy for a combined authority mayor.

The Electoral Commission does not publish specific guidance for combined authority mayoral elections, but the laws are the same as local government elections in England. The Commission has published guidance for Returning Officers on both the timing of by-elections and requests to hold a by-election. Requests to hold a by-election to fill a casual vacancy must be made in writing by two local government electors from within the local authority area.