UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has chosen Thursday 4th of July as the date for the General Election. This means that all other business in the House of Commons has come to an end. Any votes or legislation being debated has stopped. Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday 30th May.

On Thursday 4th of July, voters in the UK will go to the polls to mark a cross on a ballot paper. If they have chosen to have a Postal Vote they can do this earlier and post it in. There are also Proxy Votes where another person they have selected can vote for them if they are unable to do so themselves. For voting in Person electors will need Voter ID before they are able to vote. That is a new regulation brought in but not needed for Postal Votes.

The people who can vote are: aged 18+; British Citizens, British Overseas Citizens; Resident Irish Citizens; Resident Qualifying Commonwealth Citizens.

You must be registered to Vote.

Voters have 1 vote as the UK General Election uses a First Past the Post system. This means that the candidate who gets the most votes in a Constituency wins – even if it is by 1 vote.

The total number of Constituencies and MPs elected to the House of Commons is 650. It is proportioned out as follows:

• England: 543
• Scotland: 57
• Wales: 32
• Northern Ireland: 18

The number of constituencies has decreased for Scotland (down 2) and Wales (down 8), and for England has increased (up 10). Northern Ireland has remained the same, however, MPs elected for the Sinn Féin party in N. Ireland choose not to take their seats in the House of Commons

From the dissolution of Parliament on 30th May MPs will no longer be Members of the House of Commons, however, Lords are reappointed to that House. Government Ministers, including the Prime Minister, continue in place.

Candidates are selected by their political party, although some will stand as ‘Independents’, or to raise awareness of a cause etc. Candidates have until Friday 7th June, 4pm, to put in their nomination papers.

The UK Government continues during a General Election although there is a period of ‘purdah’ during which time it is not ‘the custom’ for the Government/Ministers to make any big announcements or statements which would affect the voting intentions of the citizens. As the UK does not have a written constitution this period is not set to a pre-selected date. It is ‘customary’ to begin when Parliament is dissolved. Broadcasters and media also have to be ‘fair’ in what they publish and report.

The Governments and Parliaments of Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland continue, although, they are also expected to be ‘sensitive’ about announcements they may make. This also applies to Local Authorities.

The Prime Minister’s chosen date, 4th July, is during the school holidays in Scotland when many families may be away. It is therefore important for those who wish to vote and who know they will be away to apply for a Postal or Proxy vote.

Click on this link for information about Voting: Register to Vote

Key Dates

Action	Timeline
Deadline for registering to vote	23.59 Tuesday 18 June
Deadline for applying for a postal vote	17.00 Wednesday 19 June
Deadline for applying for a proxy vote	17.00 Wednesday 26 June
Deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate	17.00 Wednesday 26 June
Polling day	07.00 – 22.00 Thursday 4 July

The new Parliament will first meet on Tuesday 9 July, when members begin to take the oath and the House of Commons will elect a Speaker. The Royal Approbation ceremony for the Speaker-elect will also take place in the House of Lords chamber.

The State Opening of Parliament is expected to take place on 17 July.

The Government is formed by whichever political party returns the most MPs. The new Prime Minister is the Leader of the Party of Government: Labour or Conservative. Occasionally in UK General Elections it has resulted in not one political party having an overall majority in the House of Commons and a Coalition has been formed in order to get legislation passed. The last Coalition Government in the UK was a Conservative/ Liberal Democratic one from 2010 to 2015. That is very unlikely to happen this time.

You can find out more about the General Election here: Voting and Elections, The Electoral Commission

Fiona Grahame