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| General election: When is the next one and who decides? | General election: When is the next one and who decides? |
| (1 day later) | |
| Local elections taking place on 2 May could be the last big test of political parties' popularity before the next general election. | Local elections taking place on 2 May could be the last big test of political parties' popularity before the next general election. |
| In January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he expected to go to the polls "in the second half" of 2024, but there has been speculation it could be sooner. | In January, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he expected to go to the polls "in the second half" of 2024, but there has been speculation it could be sooner. |
| When is the next general election due? | When is the next general election due? |
| The latest a Parliament can be dissolved for a general election is on the fifth anniversary of the day it first met. | The latest a Parliament can be dissolved for a general election is on the fifth anniversary of the day it first met. |
| For the current Parliament, that means 17 December 2024. | For the current Parliament, that means 17 December 2024. |
| However, 25 working days are then allowed to prepare for the election. | However, 25 working days are then allowed to prepare for the election. |
| So, the next election must be held by 28 January 2025. | So, the next election must be held by 28 January 2025. |
| When are the May local elections, and who can vote? | When are the May local elections, and who can vote? |
| Local elections 2024: Is there an election in my area? | Local elections 2024: Is there an election in my area? |
| Who decides when an election takes place? | Who decides when an election takes place? |
| The prime minister decides, but this has not always been the case. | The prime minister decides, but this has not always been the case. |
| In 2011, legislation gave control to the House of Commons. | In 2011, legislation gave control to the House of Commons. |
| Under those rules, an election before the end of the five-year term could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed. | Under those rules, an election before the end of the five-year term could only be held under certain circumstances - such as if two-thirds of MPs agreed. |
| However, after winning the 2019 election, the Conservatives restored the PM's power to call an election at a time of their choosing, within the five-year period. | However, after winning the 2019 election, the Conservatives restored the PM's power to call an election at a time of their choosing, within the five-year period. |
| Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? | Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? |
| Curtice: What could the local elections mean for the general election? | Curtice: What could the local elections mean for the general election? |
| What has PM Rishi Sunak said about when the next election will be? | What has PM Rishi Sunak said about when the next election will be? |
| Mr Sunak said in January that his "working assumption" was that there would be a general election in the second half of the year. | Mr Sunak said in January that his "working assumption" was that there would be a general election in the second half of the year. |
| In March, the prime minister confirmed it would not be held alongside the 2 May local elections. | In March, the prime minister confirmed it would not be held alongside the 2 May local elections. |
| The following week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt suggested that the poll was pencilled in for October. | The following week, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt suggested that the poll was pencilled in for October. |
| However, according to BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, there has been a lot of speculation about whether the election could be in the summer. | However, according to BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, there has been a lot of speculation about whether the election could be in the summer. |
| Channels warned over political hosts before election | Channels warned over political hosts before election |
| How does the PM call a general election? | How does the PM call a general election? |
| The PM formally asks the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament ahead of an election. | The PM formally asks the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing Parliament ahead of an election. |
| Rishi Sunak is the second prime minister of King Charles's reign | Rishi Sunak is the second prime minister of King Charles's reign |
| At the point of dissolution, MPs lose their status, and have to campaign for re-election if they wish to carry on. | At the point of dissolution, MPs lose their status, and have to campaign for re-election if they wish to carry on. |
| Government also enters a pre-election period - previously known as "purdah" - which restricts ministerial and departmental activity during the campaign. | Government also enters a pre-election period - previously known as "purdah" - which restricts ministerial and departmental activity during the campaign. |
| 100 MPs to stand down at the next election | 100 MPs to stand down at the next election |
| MPs to get help finding a new career if voted out | MPs to get help finding a new career if voted out |
| How is the general election decided? | How is the general election decided? |
| The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies. Each of these elects an MP to represent local residents in the House of Commons. | The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies. Each of these elects an MP to represent local residents in the House of Commons. |
| On election day, registered voters in each constituency vote for their preferred candidate in their local polling station. Some people vote by post in advance. | On election day, registered voters in each constituency vote for their preferred candidate in their local polling station. Some people vote by post in advance. |
| Most candidates represent a political party, but some stand as independents. | Most candidates represent a political party, but some stand as independents. |
| In a general election, each person has one vote. Under the "first past the post" system, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area. | In a general election, each person has one vote. Under the "first past the post" system, the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area. |
| After the votes have been counted, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister and to form a government. | After the votes have been counted, the King asks the leader of the party with the most MPs to become prime minister and to form a government. |
| The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition. | The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition. |
| If no party ends up with a majority of MPs - meaning it cannot pass legislation with just its own MPs - the result is a hung Parliament. | If no party ends up with a majority of MPs - meaning it cannot pass legislation with just its own MPs - the result is a hung Parliament. |
| At this point, the largest party might decide to form a coalition government with another party or operate as a minority government, relying on votes from other parties to pass any laws. | At this point, the largest party might decide to form a coalition government with another party or operate as a minority government, relying on votes from other parties to pass any laws. |
| Find your MP | Find your MP |
| Who can vote in a general election? | Who can vote in a general election? |
| Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or above on polling day can vote as long as they are: | Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or above on polling day can vote as long as they are: |
| a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address | a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address |
| all UK citizens who live abroad can now register to vote in the constituency where they were previously on the electoral roll | all UK citizens who live abroad can now register to vote in the constituency where they were previously on the electoral roll |
| not legally excluded from voting | not legally excluded from voting |
| You can register to vote at any time if you are 16 or over - or 14 or over in Scotland. | You can register to vote at any time if you are 16 or over - or 14 or over in Scotland. |
| What photo ID do you need to vote? | What photo ID do you need to vote? |
| Can I take a selfie at a polling station? | Can I take a selfie at a polling station? |
| Can the opposition force an election? | Can the opposition force an election? |
| The prime minister must have the "confidence" of the House of Commons to govern, which means they must be supported by a majority of MPs. | The prime minister must have the "confidence" of the House of Commons to govern, which means they must be supported by a majority of MPs. |
| A motion of no confidence sees MPs from all parties decide whether they want the government to continue. | A motion of no confidence sees MPs from all parties decide whether they want the government to continue. |
| If the leader of the opposition introduces such a motion, the government is expected to provide parliamentary time for a debate and a vote. | If the leader of the opposition introduces such a motion, the government is expected to provide parliamentary time for a debate and a vote. |
| Former PM Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in June 2022 | Former PM Boris Johnson survived a vote of no confidence in June 2022 |
| In order to pass, the motion needs just one more MP voting in favour than against. | In order to pass, the motion needs just one more MP voting in favour than against. |
| If the government loses the vote, a general election is normally called. | If the government loses the vote, a general election is normally called. |
| What is a vote of no confidence? | What is a vote of no confidence? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| England and Wales elections 2024 | |
| UK Parliament | UK Parliament |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |