The general election and voting in the UK

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Overview

The last UK general election took place in December 2019, when the Conservatives won 365 seats, resulting in a parliamentary majority. The next general election will take place on 4 July 2024. Bookmark this page for easy access to all our impartial research on elections, campaigning, voting, results, demographics and more.

The next general election

Timetable for the 2024 general election

In the 25 working days before the general election on 4 July 2024, there are key dates for nominating candidates and registering to vote.
- Parliament and elections
Dissolution of Parliament

Unless a Parliament runs for a full five years, the King may dissolve Parliament before the expiry of its maximum term. By convention, the King exercises those powers only following a request by the Prime Minister.
MPs standing down from the Commons ahead of the next general election

MPs that have announced they are standing down from the House of Commons ahead of the next general election
- Parliament
- UK elections

Boundary changes

Constituency boundary review: Data for new constituencies

Get demographic data for the new constituency boundaries and find out when more data might become available.
- Parliament
Boundary review 2023: Which seats will change in the UK?

This Insight looks at how constituency boundaries will change in the UK, and provides maps to view how the current constituencies relate to new ones.
- Elections
- Parliament
Constituency boundary reviews and the number of MPs

This briefing summarises the rules and procedures for boundary changes for parliamentary constituencies. It also examines how the number of constituencies and MPs have changed over time.
- Elections

Election results

UK Election Statistics: 1918-2023: A century of elections

This briefing gives an overview of UK election results since 1918, including for the UK Parliament, European Parliament, devolved legislatures and local government.
Local election 2023: Results and analysis

This briefing summarises the results of the 2023 local elections in England and Northern Ireland, when Labour and Sinn Fein became the largest parties in local government.

Voting

Who can vote in UK elections?

This briefing summarises the voting rights for different types of elections in the UK.
- Elections
Voter ID

This briefing explains the rules about showing photographic voter ID at elections to the UK Parliament and to other elections.
- Elections
Voting age

Under current legislation, a person must be 18 or over to vote in elections to the UK Parliament. The voting age for devolved and local election in Scotland and Wales has been lowered to 16. This Note gives details of calls for a change in the law to reduce the voting age to 16 in recent years.
- Elections
- Voters
Prisoners' voting rights

This House of Commons Briefing Paper analyses the debate over the voting rights of prisoners since May 2015, it also includes a concise summary of the main developments before May 2015.
- Elections
- Institutions
- Prisons
- Voters
Overseas voters

This briefing describes the eligibility to vote in UK Parliament elections for British citizens living overseas.
Absent voting

This briefing provides information on the arrangements for absent voting. It also outlines the changes to absent voting resulting from the Elections Act 2022.
- Elections
Armed Forces Voting

This briefing outlines how armed forces personnel can register to vote and sets out the background to service voting.
Disabled people: political participation

This short Library briefing paper discusses provisions to support disabled peoples political participation
- Disability
- Elections
Can EU citizens take part in UK elections after Brexit?

Now that the UK has left the European Union, what voting and candidacy rights will EU citizens have in UK elections?
- Local government
- UK elections

Briefings from POST

By-elections

UK parliamentary by-elections since 1945

This list notes the number of by-elections by session since 1945-46 together with a list of the the successful candidates in by-elections since 2005.
- Elections
- UK elections
By-elections in the 2019 Parliament

This briefing sets out results of the by-elections held in the 2019 Parliament, including lists of candidates, vote share and voter turnout.
- Elections
- UK elections
By-election timetables

This briefing explains the timetable for by-elections to the UK Parliament
- Elections
- UK elections
Recall elections

Recall allows voters to remove an elected representative between elections by signing a petition. This briefing explains how UK recall petitions work.
- Elections
- Parliament
Recess Elections Act 1975

This briefing explains the provisions of the Recess Elections Act 1975 which allows a writ for a by-election to be moved during a prorogation of Parliament or adjournment of the House.
- Elections
- UK elections
General Election 2019: full results and analysis

This briefing shows data for the 2019 General Election, with maps, charts and tables showing votes, vote shares and turnout by party, region and constituency.

Campaigning

Imprints on election and campaign material

Imprints are details that must appear on political or election-related material to show who is has produced it. This briefing explains the requirements for imprints.
- Elections
- UK elections
Pre-election period of sensitivity

Government and local authority resources cannot be used for party political campaigning at any time. In the run up to an election, the pre-election period of sensitivity, particular care is taken. Government departments and councils will normally observe discretion about making new announcements or decisions that could influence voters.
Intimidation of candidates and voters

This briefing explains the changes introduced by the Elections Act 2022 relating to the prevention of the intimidation of electoral candidates and voters.
- Elections
General election television debates

Party leader debates have been broadcast during UK general elections since 2010. This briefing sets out the history of the debates and negotiations around them.

Demographics of MPs

Female Members of Parliament

This list identifies all the women who have ever been elected to the House of Commons. They are reported by election, then in the order in which they were sworn in.
Women in Politics and Public Life

This briefing includes figures on the proportion of women in elected bodies in the UK and across the world, as well as information on women in UK public life.
Ethnic diversity in politics and public life

In 2022/23, 16% of the UK population was from a minority ethnic background. How is this reflected in politics and public life?
- Communities
- Parliament