{"election_id":"mayor.watford.2026-05-07","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"Mayor of Watford","poll_open_date":"2026-05-07","election_type":{"name":"Mayoral elections","election_type":"mayor"},"election_subtype":null,"organisation":{"url":"http://elections.democracyclub.org.uk/api/organisations/local-authority/WAT/1974-04-01/","official_identifier":"WAT","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"NMD","official_name":"Watford Borough Council","common_name":"Watford Borough Council","slug":"watford","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"Watford Borough Council","start_date":"1974-04-01","end_date":null,"created":"1974-04-01T00:00:00Z","modified":"2021-10-11T14:59:26.370579Z"},"group":"mayor.2026-05-07","group_type":null,"identifier_type":"ballot","children":[],"elected_role":"Mayor","seats_contested":1,"division":null,"voting_system":{"name":"First-past-the-post","wikipedia_url":"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post_voting","description":"A first-past-the-post (abbreviated FPTP, 1stP, 1PTP or FPP) or winner-takes-all election is one that is won by the candidate receiving more votes than any others.","uses_party_lists":false,"slug":"FPTP"},"requires_voter_id":"EA-2022","current":true,"explanation":"All areas of Watford vote for the council's mayor, in addition to the councillors for their ward. The Mayor of Watford is elected to lead the council. The Mayor chairs the council cabinet, directs the council's strategy, and sets the council budget.\r\n\r\n[**Read more about the Mayor of Watford.**](https://www.watford.gov.uk/councillors-decision-making/mayor-cabinet/2)","metadata":null,"deleted":false,"cancelled":false,"cancellation_reason":null,"replaces":null,"replaced_by":null,"by_election_reason":"","tags":{"NUTS1":{"key":"UKH","value":"East of England"}},"created":"2025-11-05T14:11:39.654148Z","modified":"2026-02-11T07:09:48.402280Z"}