Bristol Mayoral Referendum LIVE: Reaction as city opts to scrap mayoral system
Voting is underway across Bristol as people choose between a mayoral model and a committee system for their city - with the result expected in the early hours of tomorrow morning (May 6).
Residents in the city have the chance to keep or discard the current system of the directly-elected mayor and cabinet introduced 10 years ago, currently headed by mayor Marvin Rees, who will hold the position until 2024, regardless of the result.
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Hide AdThe alternative system is a committee model of government where decisions are made by groups of local councillors.
The city voted for the mayoral system in 2012 - the only city in the country to do so - with George Ferguson the first elected mayor. But at a council meeting in December, councillors voted for a new referendum on the system to be held.
Voting, which started at 7am and will end at 10pm, is taking place at polling stations across the city, which range from community halls to churches.
Follow live updates below on the voting, the count and, finally, the result in the early hours of tomorrow morning:
Bristol Mayoral Referendum LIVE:
Key Events
First ballot boxes have arrived
The first ballot boxes have arrived at Oasis Academy in Brislington, the BBC Local Democracy Reportering Service’s Adam Postans reports.
Results expected at around 4am.
That’s it - polling stations have now closed
Papers from all the polling stations will now be sent to Oasis Academy in Brislington where around 250 people will be waiting to process the count.
Also there will be our reporter Sophie Wills who will be providing updates before the result in around six hours time.
Just the one cross will do....
Here’s what people across Bristol have been marking today in polling stations across the city. Two choices: one for the mayoral model, one for a committee model system - here’s a bit more on those options.
Will it reach 20%?
Not the only one thinking about the turnout today..... https://twitter.com/jackfifield/status/1522298278892687361
How many people will vote today
With less than two hours now until polling stations close - what proportion of Bristol residents do you will take part in the referendum?
You can’t blame the weather.
Looking at the referendum in 2012, more than 77,000 people voted - 24% of the electorate. Henleaze had the highest turnout, 34%, while Filwood saw 10% vote.
For those wanting to look back at the 2012 referendum - full results here.
Timeline for today
The clock is ticking to vote with just over six hours to go until voting ends, at 10pm.
From 10pm, papers will be sent to the count at Oasis Academy in Brislington, and the result is expected at around 4am. For more information on timings, read our story here
What do ex-mayor George Ferguson and current mayor Marvin Rees say?
George Ferguson was elected as the first mayor for Bristol 10 years ago, before Marvin Rees took over in 2016 - despite both have been in the role, they have contrasting views on today’s referendum.
We broke their thoughts into three points each - read what they had to say here
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