London gets ready for 2012 elections

The 2012 election for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly may seem a long way off, but work is already well under way on the campaign to get Londoners involved.

London Elects – the organisation that runs the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections – has now appointed a website and advertising agency to help in its campaign to get Londoners to take part in the 2012 polls.

On 3^rd May next year, around 5.7 million voters in Greater London will get to decide who will be the capital’s Mayor for the next four years. They will also vote on which 25 individuals will represent them in the London Assembly.

London Elects will run a multi-media campaign that will encourage Londoners to vote, giving them information on the role of the Mayor and Assembly and explain how to vote.

They have appointed Reading Room to redevelop their website and WCRS&Co to develop their advertising and handle media buying. The website contract is worth up to £100,000 and the advertising contract is worth up to £800,000.

John Bennett, Greater London Returning Officer, said:

“Forty-five percent of Londoners turned out to vote in 2008, which was a record high turnout for these elections. But we want to see even more Londoners have their say in 2012.

“We’ve got a smaller budget for our campaign this year, but we’re confident Reading Room and WCRS will help our campaign play a big part in motivating Londoners to get out on 3^rd May, and have their say on how our city is run.”

David Burgess, Managing Director, Reading Room London, said:

“We’re thrilled to be appointed as supplier for the London Elects website. We look forward to working with London Elects to deliver the high profile website which will engage and encourage Londoners to vote for their next Mayor of London and London Assembly members.”

Matt Edward, Chief Executive of WCRS&Co, said:

“We’re proud to be working with London Elects on the 2012 Mayoral and Assembly elections campaign. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to produce great creative work that makes a difference to the city in which we work.”

ENDS

For more information please contact the London Elects press office
Press Officer: euan.holloway@london.gov.uk / 020 7983 4447
Communications Manager: sarah.garrett@london.gov.uk / 020 7983 4449

Notes to editors

1. London Elects is the independent body responsible – under the direction of the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO) – for delivering and encouraging participation in the Mayor of London and London Assembly elections.
2. London Elects is part of the Greater London Authority, but is operationally independent. It has a separate budget and reports directly to the GLRO.
3. The GLRO for this election - John Bennett - will work with Returning Officers in the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London to deliver the election.
4. Turnout for the 2008 Mayor of London election was 45.2%, for the Assembly constituency elections was 45.1% and for the Assembly list election was 45.2%.
5. More information on turnout, including on a constituency and borough level, can be found here: http://data.london.gov.uk/documents/GLA-mayoral-elections-2008.pdf
6. As of 1 December 2010, there were 5,715,418 registered voters in Greater London. The latest registration figures, including by borough, can be found here: www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_other/uk-electoral-statistics-2010.xls