English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026
2026 Act that restored the Supplementary Vote for mayoral elections, reversing the Elections Act 2022.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, given Royal Assent on 29 April, restored the Supplementary Vote for mayors from 18 June, first used at Greater Manchester's 30 July contest.
Last refreshed: 3 August 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What changed for English mayors under the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026?
Timeline for English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026
Restored the Supplementary Vote from 18 June
UK Local Elections 2026: Craig wins Manchester in its first second roundReceived Royal Assent and restored the Supplementary Vote for mayoral and PCC contests
UK Local Elections 2026: How English mayors got the transfer vote backBackground
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, a broader piece of legislation whose electoral provisions bring back transfer voting for English mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners.
Its commencement date of 18 June 2026 set the cut-off for which contests the new rules apply to; anything noticed from that date runs under the Supplementary Vote rather than the plurality system the Elections Act 2022 had put in place.
Greater Manchester's mayoral by-election on 30 July was the first contest the Act's electoral provisions actually governed, giving the reform its debut before any wider English mayoral round.
The Act delivers its first mayoral test
Ministers secured Royal Assent for the Act on 29 April 2026, writing into law that any mayoral or Police and Crime Commissioner contest noticed from 18 June Onward would use transfers rather than a simple plurality to find a winner.
Greater Manchester supplied the law's first practical test on 30 July, when Andy Burnham's vacated mayoralty went to Labour's Bev Craig over Reform UK's Sian Astley only once second preferences were counted.
What does the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 do?
When did the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 receive Royal Assent?
What did the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 change?
When did the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 become law?
