When is the UK general election and how do postal votes work?
When is the UK general election and how do postal votes work?
(about 5 hours later)
Millions of UK voters will go to the polls on Thursday, 4 July, to elect the 650 MPs who sit in the House of Commons.
Millions of voters have the chance to take part in Thursday's general election.
Some councils have made special arrangements to issue replacement postal-vote packs, after reported delays in Scotland and parts of southern England.
They will elect their local MP and help choose the UK's next government.
What if my postal vote has not arrived?
Some councils have made special arrangements to issue replacement postal-vote packs, after reported delays in Scotland and parts of England.
If you have not received your postal vote, your local council's returning officer, external can issue a replacement voting pack up until 17:00 on polling day.
What if my postal vote has not arrived and how can I return mine?
You should contact its electoral-services team, external as soon as possible.
A replacement voting pack can be issued by your local council's returning officer, external until 17:00 BST on Thursday.
You cannot collect a replacement voting pack from your local polling station on the day.
Contact your council's electoral services team, external as soon as possible - replacement packs won't be available at polling stations.
Councils in Edinburgh and Fife have created emergency voting booths for people who have not received their postal votes and will be on holiday on 4 July.
For your vote to be counted, you can hand in your completed form to your polling station before 22:00 on Thursday. Or you can take it to the address on your postal voting pack during office hours this week, before 17:00 on polling day. You don't need ID, but you must sign a form.
Some other councils opened over the weekend to let residents collect replacement voting packs.
You can also drop off up to five completed postal vote packs for friends and family.
SNP 'massively concerned' about postal vote delays
Political candidates and party campaigners are only allowed to handle postal votes for close family members, or someone they regularly care for.
SNP 'massively concerned' about postal vote delays
In Northern Ireland, campaigners cannot handle another person's postal vote, and postal votes cannot be accepted at polling stations, external.
Some Scottish councils have created emergency voting booths for people who will be on holiday.
In certain circumstances, voters in England, Scotland and Wales can nominate an emergency proxy, external to vote for them. However, the Electoral Commission, external, which oversees UK elections, has confirmed the non-arrival of a postal vote does not qualify.
Royal Mail denies postal vote backlog as concerns raised
Royal Mail denies postal vote backlog as concerns raised
What are Scottish councils doing to deal with postal vote delays?
What are Scottish councils doing to deal with postal vote delays?
What are Scottish councils doing to deal with postal vote delays?
What are Scottish councils doing to deal with postal vote delays?
In certain circumstances, voters in England, Scotland and Wales can nominate an emergency proxy, external to vote on their behalf - but the Electoral Commission, external, which manages elections in the UK, has confirmed the non-arrival of a postal vote is not one of them.
When do polling stations open and how do I find mine?
How can I return a completed postal vote?
Polling stations open on Thursday 4 July at 07:00 and close at 22:00. You can vote as long as you are in the queue by 22:00.
Your completed postal vote must be with your local council by 22:00 on polling day.
You can only vote at your local polling station, which might not be the same as in previous elections.
If you have received your postal vote but are worried there is too little time to mail it back before the deadline, you can take your completed postal pack to your polling station on 4 July before it closes at 22:00.
The address is on your polling card, or you can find details online, external.
Alternatively, you can take the completed form to your council's electoral-services team during office hours any day this week before 17:00 on Thursday.
Can I take children or pets to a polling station?
It must be returned to the address on your postal-voting pack - which may not be the main council building nearest to you.
Can I take children or pets to a polling station?
You do not need ID but you must sign a form in person when you drop off a postal vote at either a polling station or your council offices.
How does the BBC report polling day?
You can also drop off up to five additional completed postal-vote packs on behalf of friends, family or neighbours.
How does the BBC report polling day?
Political candidates and party campaigners are only allowed to handle postal votes for close family members or someone for whom they regularly care.
How do general elections work and what constituency am I in?
What is a general election and how many MPs are there?
The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies.
The general election is to elect Members of Parliament - or MPs - to the House of Commons.
In a general election, voters in each constituency choose a Member of Parliament - or MP - to represent them in the House of Commons.
The UK is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies, each of which elects one MP to represent local residents.
Most candidates belong to a particular political party, but some are independent.
Most candidates represent a political party, but some are independent.
Each person has one vote. Under a system called "first past the post", the candidate with the most votes becomes the MP for that area.
Follow the latest campaign developments
The party with the most MPs typically forms the next government, and its leader usually becomes the prime minister.
Follow the latest campaign developments
This general election uses new constituency boundaries, redrawn to reflect population changes and to even out voter numbers.
Your Voice, Your Vote: What issues matter to you?
Enter your postcode in our tool to find out which constituency you are in and who you can vote for. Or you can browse all the constituencies on our A-Z page.
Your Voice, Your Vote: What issues matter to you?
Who can vote and how do I register?
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?
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, 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 with the most votes becomes the MP for that area.
First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
First-time voter? Here is what you need to know about what to do
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
Election poll tracker: How do the parties compare?
Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
Who should I vote for and what are the parties promising?
What constituency am I in?
What photo ID do I need to vote?
This election will use new constituency boundaries, redrawn to reflect population changes and to even out voter numbers.
Under rules introduced in May 2023, voters in England, Scotland and Wales have to show valid photo ID to vote in person at a general election. You do not need to take your polling card.
Enter your postcode in our tool to find out which constituency you are in, who you can vote for and where you can vote.
There are 22 acceptable forms of ID, external, including passports and driving licences. You can use expired photo ID as along as you are still recognisable.
If you want to browse through the constituencies you can use our A-Z page.
Voters in England, Scotland and Wales whose ID has been lost or stolen can apply for an emergency proxy vote, external until 17:00 on polling day. A proxy is someone else you nominate to vote on your behalf.
BBC experts analyse the party manifestos
Both you and your proxy must be registered to vote.
Conservatives' key policies
The rules are different in Northern Ireland, external, where voters have had to show photo ID since 2003.
Conservatives' key policies
Labour's key policies
Labour's key policies
Lib Dems' key policies
Lib Dems' key policies
Green party's key policies
Green party's key policies
Reform's key policies
Reform's key policies
Plaid Cymru's key policies
Plaid Cymru's key policies
SNP's key policies
SNP's key policies
How do proxy votes work and what is the deadline?
With a proxy vote you nominate someone else, external to vote on your behalf. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote.
The deadline to apply for a proxy vote for the general election has now passed.
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.
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.
People whose postal votes have not arrived are not eligible for an emergency proxy vote.
Live: Follow the latest news about the UK general election
Live: Follow the latest news about the UK general election
Poll tracker: How do parties compare?
Poll tracker: How do parties compare?
Compare all the election manifestos and policies
Compare all the election manifestos and policies
What photo ID will you need to vote?
What photo ID will you need to vote?
How the BBC reports polling day
How the BBC reports polling day
What photo ID do I need to vote at the 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:
passports
passports
driving licences
driving licences
Older or Disabled Person's bus passes
Older or Disabled Person's bus passes
Oyster 60+ cards
Oyster 60+ cards
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., external
The deadline to apply for a voter authority certificate to use in the general election has passed.
However, if you realise your ID has been lost or stolen after the deadline, voters in England, Scotland and Wales can apply for an emergency proxy vote, external instead up until 17:00 on polling day.
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?
What if I can't get to the polling station on 4 July?
Can I take children or pets to a polling station?
You can also request an emergency proxy vote, external if last-minute work commitments or a medical emergency mean you can no longer vote in person.
What happens to Parliament and MPs before the election?
You can apply for this up to 17:00 on polling day in England, Scotland and Wales.
Parliament was dissolved - the official term for closing it ahead of an election, external - on Thursday 30 May.
People whose postal votes have not arrived cannot use an emergency proxy vote.
Dissolving Parliament means MPs lose their status, and those who want to return have to campaign for re-election.
Government also enters a pre-election period - previously known as "purdah" - which restricts ministerial and departmental activity during the campaign.
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?
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.
After the votes have been counted, the King typically 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 usually 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 laws.
The new Parliament will meet on 9 July, when it will elect a Speaker and swear in members.
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.
This will be followed on 17 July by the State Opening of Parliament and the King's Speech, when the government outlines its priorities.
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 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.
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.
What questions do you have about the general election?
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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.
