The full list of candidates viying to be the Mayor of Greater Manchester after Andy Burnham's resignation is confirmed
The race to replace Andy Burnham as Greater Manchester Mayor stepped up a gear this week with the full list of contenders confirmed.
There will be seven candidates challenging for the job and the city region – including Wigan – will go to the polls on Thursday July 30.
The seat became vacant when Mr Burnham won the Makerfield by-election for Labour last month, as he bids to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
Listed alphabetically by surname, as they will appear in the ballot paper, the candidates are:
ASTLEY, Sian Niamh (Reform UK)
COGGINS, Geraldine (The Green Party)
CRAIG, Bev (Labour and Co-operative Party)
ECKERSLEY, Phil (The Conservative Party Candidate)
FARMER, Marcus Jonathan (Independent)
KILPATRICK, Richard Martin (Liberal Democrats)
WEST, Marlon Scott (Restore Britain)
Voters are being encouraged to ensure they are registered to vote.
The deadline for registration is before midnight on Tuesday July 14. It takes just five minutes to register to vote online.
Those who are registered to vote but want to do so by post have until 5pm on Wednesday July 15 to apply for a postal vote.
To vote, people must be on the electoral register and have a valid form of photo ID if they are voting in a polling station.
Valid voter ID can be a passport, a driving licence, some types of bus pass or a proof of age card. Your ID must be the original and not a photocopy or screenshot.
Expired ID can still be valid, as long as the photo still looks like the holder.
Voters should check they have at least one form of ID on the list.
Without an accepted form of photo ID voters can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate and the deadline to apply for this is 5pm on Wednesday July 22.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester is a major figure in the political life of the city-region, with unique powers and responsibilities.
This includes setting budgets and priorities for Greater Manchester’s public services including transport, housing and planning, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Police and Crime Commissioner responsibilities, and acting as an ambassador for the city-region.
Residents can cast their vote in one of three ways: in person (at the polling station shown on the poll card), by post, or by proxy (appointing someone a resident trusts to vote on their behalf).
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Wednesday July 15.
The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday July 22.
More information about the Greater Manchester Mayoral Election, including information about registering to vote and applying for a postal or proxy vote, and where to get help, can be found on GM Elects.
Key dates:
Deadline to register to vote: by midnight on Tuesday July 14
Deadline to apply for a postal vote: 5pm on Wednesday July 15
Deadline for to apply for free voter ID: 5pm on Wednesday July 22
Deadline for to apply for a proxy vote: 5pm on Wednesday July 22
Polling day 7am to 10pm: Thursday July 30
Declaration of result: Friday July 31.