What is the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayoral election?
CPCAOn Thursday 1 May, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough residents will head to the polls to elect a new mayor.
It is a chance for the county's 646,318 registered voters to decide who will oversee decision-making on key issues such as transport and housing.
Who can vote in the election?
The vote is open to adults aged 18 or over who are British and Irish citizens, qualifying Commonwealth citizens, as well as residents from Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
Citizens of other EU countries can vote if they have been legally resident in the UK since 31 December 2020 without a break.
Anyone not already registered to vote needs to do so before 11 April at 23:59 BST. The deadline to apply for a postal vote, or change an existing postal or proxy vote, is 14 April at 17:00.
How do I vote in the election?
Polls open at 07:00 on Thursday 1 May and close at 22:00. If you have a postal vote, it should be sent to you about a week before.
How does voting work?
There will be one vote for each mayoral candidate on the ballot paper and the candidate with the most votes wins.
Who are the candidates running for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor?
The candidates who have been declared so far, listed by surname alphabetically, are:
- Paul Bristow – Conservative
- Ryan Coogan - Reform UK
- Lorna Dupre – Liberal Democrat
- Bob Ensch – Green Party
- Anna Smith – Labour
What does the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor do?
Steve Hubbard/BBCThe mayor has the power to make decisions over areas including public transport, infrastructure, economic development, business, skills and regeneration.
The current mayor, Nik Johnson, recently signed off plans to bring buses under the Combined Authority's control, by introducing a new franchising system in late 2027.
They also act as a political figurehead who can lobby the government for funding for the region.
What is the combined authority?
The combined authority is led by the mayor and a board made up of the region's seven council leaders, as well as the chair of the NHS Integrated Care Board, chair of the Business Board, and police and crime commissioner.
The Combined Authority will receive £328m over the next four years for capital spending on big projects, as well as a £333m for revenue budget, for staffing and other ongoing costs.
It can work with local councils to bid for government funding, such as its joint bid with Peterborough City Council to develop the railway station.
The individual councils still look after local services such as weekly bin collections, parks and libraries.
When do voters find out who will be the next mayor?
The declaration is expected in the early afternoon on Friday 2 May, on the same day Cambridgeshire County Council election results are announced.
What happened in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor 2021 elections?
Ben Schofield/BBCLabour's Nik Johnson was elected as Cambridgeshire and Peterborough mayor in 2021 with 51.3% of the vote.
He beat the previous Conservative mayor James Palmer in the second round of voting, after no candidate received 50% of the vote in the first round.
There were three candidates from the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties and turnout was 36%.
The voting system has changed for 2025 to first-past-the-post.
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