The first round of vote counting has been completed in the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election, voting for which happened yesterday (30 July). Under new rules for this by-election, if no one receives more than 50%, the top two candidates go into a head-to-head, in which second preference votes from the eliminated candidates are counted.
First round vote results
We don’t currently have the first round results, but with Labour’s Bev Craig gaining less than 50% of the vote – and being the top candidate – secondary votes will now be counted. The secondary count is between Bev Craig of the Labour Party and Sian Astley of Reform UK.
Votes are being counted at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
Voter turnout in every borough
The 2026 Greater Manchester Mayoral Election was the biggest by-election the UK has ever seen, with around two million people eligible to vote, but had a voter turnout of a mere 25%. That’s the lowest ever in a Greater Manchester Mayoral Election.
Voter turnout in each borough was as follows:
- Trafford: 35%
- Stockport: 31%
- Bury: 28%
- Tameside: 25%
- Bolton: 23%
- Manchester: 23%
- Rochdale: 23%
- Salford: 23%
- Oldham: 22%
- Wigan: 22%
Stats according to GM Elects.
When will the final results be announced?
It’s always a tough one to call in elections, but considering the first votes were counted all day today, this second vote count could take just as long. It is generally known, though, that in this voting set-up – where voters cross two boxes with a second choice – many opt not to use their second vote, so it could take a little less time to come up with the final results.
Given those calculations (we use that term loseley), we could receive the final results for the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election any time between the early hours of tomorrow morning (1 August), and midday.
You’ll be able to find the final results when they are announced on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority website.
