Referendums

UK-wide, national and regional referendums

The Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 established a fixed legal framework for the conduct of any referendum held across the UK, or a referendum held in Scotland, Wales, England or Northern Ireland. UK-wide, national end regional referendum will generally be conducted by the Electoral Commission.

There was a referendum on the UK Parliamentary Voting System held on Thursday 5 May 2011 - the same date as Plymouth City Council elections.

• Total number of ballot papers counted - 69,994
• Total number of votes cast in favour of yes - 20,251
• Total number of votes cast in favour of no - 49,743

A total of 71.1 per cent of city residents voted against a change to the voting system for Parliamentary Voting System with 28.9 per cent voted for it.

For further information visit the Electoral Commissions website.

Mayoral referendums

The Local Government Act 2000 set out a major change in the way local authorities in England and Wales are run. Most local authorities, except some of the smaller district councils, operate 'executive arrangements'.

There are three types of executive arrangement set out in the Act. Two of these involve a directly elected mayor, either Mayor and Cabinet or Mayor and Council Manager. The third involves a Leader (who is elected by Councillors) and Cabinet. Plymouth has adopted the leader and cabinet model.

Local residents can require a mayoral referendum by organising a petition signed by 5 per cent of local government electors shown in the electoral register.

Verification Number

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2000 and the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011, we are required to publish the minimum number of signatures which would be needed to support a valid petition requiring us to hold a referendum on wether the local authority should change to a different form of governance.

The minimum number of signatures (equivalent to five per cent of the local government electorate) is 9040 (having effect on 1 February 2012).

This figure will be used for the purposes of determining the validity of petitions presented from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

A new verification number will be published each year.

Mayoral referendum results 2002

In 2002 voters in Plymouth rejected the idea that the city should be governed by a directly elected mayor.

Plymouth City Council is run by a Leader and Cabinet system.

The referendum was held between the 10 and 24 January 2002 in which 42,811 (59 per cent) of city residents voted against an en executive led by an elected mayor and 29,559 (41 per cent) voted for. A total of 72,370 ballot papers were returned.

The turnout in the city's first local referendum was 39.8 per cent.