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When is the UK general election and who can vote? When is the UK general election and who can vote?
(about 1 month later)
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the next general election will take place on 4 July. Millions of UK voters will go to the polls on 4 July.
Mr Sunak's announcement ended months of speculation about when the UK would go to the polls. It is too late to register to vote in the general election, or to apply for a postal or proxy vote.
However, voters in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for an emergency proxy vote if they discover they can no longer vote in person.
What is a general election and how many MPs are there?What is a general election and how many MPs are there?
The general election is to elect Members of Parliament - or MPs - to the House of Commons.The general election is to elect Members of Parliament - or MPs - to the House of Commons.
The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies, and each of these elects one MP to represent local residents at Westminster. The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies, each of which elects one MP to represent local residents.
Most candidates represent a political party, but some stand as independents. Most candidates represent a political party, but some are independent.
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? Follow the latest campaign developments
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare? Follow the latest campaign developments
Why did Sunak decide to call summer election? Your Voice, Your Vote: What issues matter to you?
Why did Sunak decide to call summer election? Your Voice, Your Vote: What issues matter to you?
Calling an election on the economy is a risky gamble Who can vote and how do I register?
Calling an election on the economy is a risky gamble Anyone on the electoral register who is 18 or over on polling day can vote if they are a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address.
All UK citizens who live abroad can register to vote in the constituency where they were previously resident or on the electoral roll.
Students can be registered at both their home and term-time addresses,, external but must only vote in one place.
Those who cannot vote in general elections, external include prisoners serving a sentence in jail, and peers from the House of Lords.
The deadline to register to vote in the general election has passed.
How does voting work?How does voting work?
In a general election, each person has one vote.In a general election, each person has one vote.
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, which is open between 07:00 and 22:00. Some people vote by post in advance.
Under a system called "first past the post", the candidate who gets the most votes becomes the MP for that area. Under a system called "first past the post", the candidate with the most votes becomes the MP for that area.
How can I find out about my constituency? First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
This election will be fought on new constituency boundaries, redrawn to reflect population changes and to try to even out voter numbers in each area. First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
Use our tool to find out which constituency you are in and an estimate of what the result would have been had these new boundaries been in place at the last general election, in 2019. Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
What happens after the election results are announced? Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
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. Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
The leader of the party with the second highest number of MPs becomes the leader of the opposition. Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
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. What constituency am I in?
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. This election will use new constituency boundaries, redrawn to reflect population changes and to even out voter numbers.
Who can vote and how old do you have to be? Enter your postcode in our tool to find out which constituency you are in, who you can vote for and where you can vote.
Anyone on the electoral register aged 18 or over on polling day can vote in the general election as long as they are a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address. If you want to browse through the constituencies you can use our A-Z page.
All UK citizens who live abroad can register to vote in the constituency where they were previously resident or on the electoral roll as long as they are not legally excluded from voting. BBC experts analyse the party manifestos
Those who cannot vote in general elections, external include prisoners serving a sentence in jail, and peers from the House of Lords. Conservatives' key policies
The deadline to register to vote in the general election is 23:59 BST on Tuesday 18 June. Conservatives' key policies
Register to vote, external Labour's key policies
Register to vote, external Labour's key policies
Find your MP, external Lib Dems' key policies
Find your MP, external Lib Dems' key policies
How can I vote if I am on holiday? Green party's key policies
Polling stations are open between 07:00 and 22:00 on election day. Green party's key policies
If you have already registered and know that you will not be able to vote in personyou can apply for a postal vote., external Reform's key policies
It does not matter whether this is because you will be on holiday, working or simply find mailing your vote more convenient. Reform's key policies
You will need to prove your identity when applying. Plaid Cymru's key policies
The deadline to apply for a postal vote for the general election is 17:00 on Wednesday 19 June. Plaid Cymru's key policies
Alternatively you can nominate a proxy, external to vote on your behalf. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote. SNP's key policies
The rules for voting by proxy have changed. If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, this has expired and you need to apply again. SNP's key policies
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for the general election is 17:00 on Wednesday 26 June. How do postal votes work?
You can also request an emergency proxy vote, external after this deadline if last-minute work commitments or a medical emergency mean you cannot vote in person. You can apply for this up to 17:00 on polling day. If you cannot attend your polling station in person on election day - and you had already registered - you could have applied for a postal vote, but the deadline has now passed.
The deadline to apply for a postal or proxy vote in Northern Ireland is 17:00 on Friday 14 June 2024. For your postal vote to count, you must return your voting pack to the elections team at your local council by 22:00 BST on polling day.
Apply for a postal vote, external Alternatively, you can take it to your polling station on election day before it closes at 22:00.
Apply for a postal vote, external How do proxy votes work and what is the deadline?
Apply for a proxy vote, external You can also nominate someone else, external to vote on your behalf. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote.
Apply for a proxy vote, external The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for the general election has now passed.
Apply for a postal or proxy vote in Northern Ireland, external You can request an emergency proxy vote, external after this deadline if last-minute work commitments or a medical emergency mean you can no longer vote in person.
Apply for a postal or proxy vote in Northern Ireland, external You can apply for this up to 17:00 on polling day, Thursday 4 July in England, Scotland and Wales, or if you are overseas.
Will I need photo ID to vote at the general election? What photo ID do I need to vote at the general election?
Yes. Since May 2023, voters have to show a valid form of photo ID at polling stations to vote in person at a general election. Since May 2023 voters in England, Scotland and Wales have had to show a valid form of photo ID at polling stations to vote in person at a general election.
You do not need your polling card.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID,, external including:There are 22 acceptable forms of ID,, external including:
passportspassports
passportspassports
driving licencesdriving licences
driving licencesdriving licences
Older or Disabled Person's bus passesOlder or Disabled Person's bus passes
Older or Disabled Person's bus passesOlder or Disabled Person's bus passes
Oyster 60+ cardsOyster 60+ cards
Oyster 60+ cardsOyster 60+ cards
You can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same.You can use out-of-date photo ID as long as you look the same.
Alternatively, anyone registered to vote without the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document called a voter authority certificate., externalAlternatively, anyone registered to vote without the correct ID - or who no longer looks like their photo - can apply for a free document called a voter authority certificate., external
The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate to use in the general election is 17:00 on Wednesday 26 June. The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate to use in the general election has passed.
If you realise you do not have valid ID after this deadline, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote, external up until 17:00 on polling day. However, if you realise you do not have valid ID, voters in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for an emergency proxy vote, external instead up until 17:00 on polling day.
Voters in Northern Ireland can use the Electoral Identity Card, external. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote.
Voters in Northern Ireland have had to show photo ID since 2003. There are nine acceptable forms of ID, external including:
passports
passports
driving licences
driving licences
senior travel passes
senior travel passes
war disablement passes
war disablement passes
Voters in Northern Ireland without correct ID can apply for an electoral identity card, external. The deadline to get one to use in this election has passed.
What photo ID will you need to vote in the general election?What photo ID will you need to vote in the general election?
What photo ID will you need to vote in the general election?What photo ID will you need to vote in the general election?
Can I take children or pets to a polling station?Can I take children or pets to a polling station?
Can I take children or pets to a polling station?Can I take children or pets to a polling station?
What happens to Parliament and MPs before the election?What happens to Parliament and MPs before the election?
The prime minister has formally asked the King to "dissolve" Parliament - the official term for closing it ahead of an election. Parliament was dissolved - the official term for closing it ahead of an election, external - on Thursday 30 May.
This will happen on Thursday 30 May. Dissolving Parliament means MPs lose their status, and those who want to return have to campaign for re-election.
MPs lose their status and will have to campaign for re-election if they wish to carry on.
More than 100 MPs have said they will stand down at the next election.
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.
How to watch the TV election debates
How to watch the TV election debates
Listen: Electioncast
Listen: Electioncast
Listen: Understand the UK election
Listen: Understand the UK election
Sign up for the Election Essential newsletter
Sign up for the Election Essential newsletter
What happens after the election results are announced?
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.
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.
The new Parliament will meet on 9 July, when it will elect a Speaker and swear in members.
This will be followed by the State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech, when the government outlines its priorities for the months ahead, on 17 July.
What does the prime minister do?
What does the prime minister do?
How often are general elections held?How often are general elections held?
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 date was 17 December 2024. For the Parliament which has just been dissolved, that date was 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 had to be held by 28 January 2025.So the next election had to be held by 28 January 2025.
The prime minister can call the election at a time of their choosing, within the five-year period.The prime minister can call the election at a time of their choosing, within the five-year period.
Mr Sunak became prime minister on 25 October 2022 when he succeeded Liz Truss, who took over from Boris Johnson.Mr Sunak became prime minister on 25 October 2022 when he succeeded Liz Truss, who took over from Boris Johnson.
What questions do you have about the general election?What questions do you have about the general election?
In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.In some cases your question will be published, displaying your name, age and location as you provide it, unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published. Please ensure you have read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.
Use this form to ask your question:Use this form to ask your question:
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk, external. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or send them via email to YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk, external. Please include your name, age and location with any question you send in.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
UK governmentUK government
UK ParliamentUK Parliament
Rishi Sunak
General election 2024General election 2024