Mayoral elections with 40%: Sweeping changes in local governance!

The Ministry of Interior is introducing major reforms in local governance and the election process for mayors, as outlined in a new law currently under review. The first insights were shared during the KEDE (Central Union of Municipalities of Greece) conference, with further details revealed in a recent meeting with center-right mayors from across the country.
Key Change: Mayors elected with 40% with no second round
One of the most groundbreaking changes is that mayoral candidates will now need only 40% of the vote to be elected, eliminating the second-round runoff elections entirely.
New Rules for Mayoral Elections and Municipal Councils
If the leading candidate secures at least 40%, they will automatically win the election and be granted a majority in the Municipal Council, starting with 60% of council seats.
If the winning candidate exceeds 60%, they will receive an equivalent proportion of council seats accordingly.
What Happens If No Candidate Reaches 40%?
A major innovation in the system applies when the leading candidate does not reach the 40% threshold.
Modified Ballots: Voters will now see additional candidates’ names listed under their preferred party’s candidates on the ballot.
Second Choice Voting: Voters can select their preferred mayoral candidate as usual but will also have the option to mark a second-choice candidate from a different party.
Vote Redistribution: If no candidate reaches 40%, the top two candidates will move forward. The second-choice votes from lower-ranking candidates (3rd, 4th, 5th place) will be redistributed among the top two.
The candidate with the most combined votes will be elected as mayor.
The winning candidate’s party will then receive 60% of the council seats to ensure governability.
Abolition of Municipal Units as Separate Electoral Districts
Another significant reform is the elimination of the "Municipal Unit" system, which previously allowed for smaller districts within municipalities to elect their own representatives.
From now on, all municipal council members will be elected based on total votes across the entire municipality rather than being protected by smaller regional quotas.
This change is expected to increase competition among candidates and reshape the political landscape of local elections.
Fewer Candidates in Elections
The reform also reduces the number of candidates allowed per electoral list.
Previously, a municipality with 35 council members could have up to 88 candidates per party (a 150% surplus).
The new law will likely reduce this surplus to 100%, meaning in the same example, the maximum number of candidates per party would be 70.
No Changes to Municipal Boundaries
Despite discussions about modifying municipal boundaries or merging municipalities, Deputy Minister Theodoros Livanios clarified that the number of municipalities (332) and their current borders will remain unchanged.