Different types of elections and when they're held
Everyone in the Bristol City Council area is represented by:
- one, two or three councillors depending on the size of the ward they live in
- the Mayor of Bristol City (until May 2024)
- the Combined Authority (WECA) mayor
- the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset
- a Member of Parliament (MP)
Find out what elections you're eligible to vote in
Dates of elections
| Type of election | Last election | Next scheduled election |
|---|---|---|
| Local elections | 6 May 2021 | 2 May 2024 |
| Mayor of Bristol | 6 May 2021 | No further elections |
| PCC election | 6 May 2021 | 2 May 2024 |
| WECA mayor | 6 May 2021 | 1 May 2025 |
| General election | 12 December 2019 | To be confirmed |
Types of elections
Local elections
Local elections are held once every four years on the first Thursday of May using the first past the post system. Most of the wards within Bristol are multi-member wards.
There could also be an election known as a by-election in a specific area if a councillor needs to be replaced.
In a local election you're voting to elect councillors of Bristol who will represent your views for the wards, or area, where you live.
There are:
- 34 electoral wards in Bristol
- 70 elected councillors
Find your ward and councillor.
Mayor of Bristol election
Marvin Rees is the elected Mayor of Bristol until May 2024, after which time there will not be an elected mayor of Bristol.
West of England Combined Authority Mayor election
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) was established in February 2017.
The WECA is led by the elected WECA Mayor (sometimes referred to as the Metro Mayor).
Elections for the WECA Mayor are held every four years on the first Thursday of May.
Dan Norris (Labour Party) was elected as the new West of England Combined Authority Mayor on Saturday 8 May 2021.
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset election
Police and Crime Commissioner elections are held every four years on the first Thursday of May.
Mark Grosvenor McNeill Shelford (Conservative Party) was elected as Police and Crime Commissioner of the Avon and Somerset Police area on Friday 7 May 2021.
Find out about the role of the PCC on the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners website
UK Parliamentary (General) elections
A UK Parliamentary General election was held in Bristol on Thursday 12 December 2019.
In general elections, you elect somebody to represent you in Parliament, as a Member of Parliament (MP), in a parliamentary constituency.
Bristol City Council area currently has four constituencies:
- Bristol East
- Bristol North West
- Bristol South
- Bristol West
In 2024 this will change to five constituencies:
- Bristol Central
- Bristol East
- Bristol North East
- Bristol North West
- Bristol South
See the MPs details for Bristol constituencies.
Visit the UK parliament website for information about the role of MPS and the work of parliament.
Referendums
A referendum is a vote by the electorate on a single question.
There are both national and local referendums held.
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) ballots
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships set up to improve particular commercial areas.
Businesses in the area can take part in a ballot to choose whether to pay a percentage of their rateable value on top of their business rates to fund projects which benefit local businesses.
For information, results of BID votes and notices of BID ballots for current or recent BIDs visit our business improvement districts page.