Planning on voting in the Watford local elections today? Here’s our guide to the mayoral and council elections.

Watford Mayoral:

The main event today will be the vote to decide who will be Watford’s elected mayor. It is the most powerful political office in the town.

The position has been held by Liberal Democrat, Dorothy Thornhill, since it was created in 2002. Today she is seeking a fourth term as mayor.

Mayor Thornhill is being challenged by Labour’s Jagtar Singh Dhindsa, Conservative Linda Topping and Phil Cox of the UK Independence Party.

Here is a short video clip from each candidate on why they want your vote:

Liberal Democrat Dorothy Thornhill:

Labour's Jagtar Singh Dhindsa:

Conservative Linda Topping:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ukip's Phil Cox:

Here is information about the parties’ mayoral manifestos.

Liberal Democrat - click here.

Labour - click here.

Conservative - click here.

UKIP - click here.

Why do you have two votes?

Voters will have to pick two candidates on the mayoral ballot paper – a first and second preference. This is because the election is decided by the supplementary vote system. In this all the first preference votes are counted and if one candidate has a majority of more than 50 per cent over the others they automatically win.

If not the two top candidates go through to a second round of counting. Here the second preference votes of all the knocked-out candidates are added to the leading two. The candidate with the biggest pile of votes at the end of the second count wins.

The upshot is you need to consider who your second preference candidate is as it could be important if the contest is pushed to a second round.

Watford Borough Council elections:

A third of the council’s 36 seats are also up for grabs today – one in each of Watford’s 12 wards. There will also be a by-election in Callowland after Green councillor, Steve Rackett, stood down. The council is currently dominated by the Liberal Democrats, who hold 24 seats. Labour are the largest opposition party with eight councillors, the Green party have three and there is an independent in Park, Malcolm Meerabux.

Here’s a list of the candidates standing today: