The next general election will be held on 4 July 2024.
What is a general election?
The UK general election is a nationwide vote held to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons, the lower house of Parliament. The general election typically occurs every five years, although the Prime Minister can call an early election under certain circumstances, such as losing a vote of confidence or securing a two-thirds majority vote in the House of Commons.
What happens in a general election?
During a general election, eligible voters across the United Kingdom cast their votes for candidates standing in their local constituencies. Each constituency elects one MP, and the political party that secures most MPs in the House of Commons typically forms the government. The leader of the winning party usually becomes the Prime Minister.
Political parties nominate candidates to run in each constituency, and voters choose the candidate they prefer. The voting system used in general elections in the UK is called the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins.
The outcome of the general election determines the composition of the House of Commons and, consequently, the political direction of the UK government. It's a crucial event in British politics, as it allows citizens to have a say in who represents them in Parliament and which party governs the country. This is why it's so important that you have your say!
Need more information? Check the Parliament UK website for a further breakdown of general elections and to find your local MP.
Clued up? Learn how to vote in the general election.