General elections

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 534.

Parliamentary constituencies

Elections

The UK is currently divided into 646 parliamentary constituencies, each of which is represented by one MP in the House of Commons. Although constituencies vary widely in area, the average number of voters in each constituency is approximately 68,500.

There are currently 529 constituencies in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.

Constituency boundaries are kept under review by four permanent Boundary Commissions, one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Commissions make reports at regular intervals recommending any necessary changes due to population change or changes in local government boundaries. On completion of the current (fifth) general review, the functions of the Boundary Commissions will be transferred to the Electoral Commission.

General elections are held at least every five years although not all Parliaments run for the whole five year period. The last general election in the UK took place on 5 May 2005.

Each constituency in the UK elects one MP (Member of Parliament) to a seat in the House of Commons. The political party that wins a majority of seats in the House of Commons usually forms the Government.

MPs are elected from a choice of candidates by a simple majority system in which each person casts one vote. The candidate with the most votes then becomes the MP for that constituency.

Candidates may be from a political party registered with the Electoral Commission or they may stand as an 'Independent' rather than represent a registered party.

Most voting takes place in polling stations but anyone eligible to vote can apply for a postal vote. British citizens living abroad are also entitled to a postal vote as long as they have been living abroad for less than 15 years.