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Find out more about elections and referendums in the UK, including the general election, check who can vote in each election and how voting works.
There are different types of UK elections. The most common ones are:…
General elections (elections to the UK Parliament) usually take place…
Local government elections take place at least every 4 years. Not all…
There are 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). To vote in…
There are 90 Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northern…
There are 60 Members of the Senedd (MSs). To vote in Senedd elections you…
Elected local mayors In some areas of England voters elect a mayor. Check…
There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales…
A referendum is a vote on a single issue. You usually make one choice…
An overview of voting in the UK, including voting in person, postal and proxy voting, and voting if you're abroad.
You need to be registered to vote before you can vote in UK elections or…
You vote in person at a polling station (usually in a public building,…
You must apply for a postal vote if you want to vote by post, for example…
If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your…
How you vote when you’re abroad depends on: whether you’ll be abroad…
You’ll need to show photo ID when voting in person in some UK elections or…
You may be asked to vote on behalf of someone else if they’re unable to…
Vote in UK elections and referendums, register to vote, check what ID you need, and apply to vote by post or by proxy.
Challenge the result of an election if you think it was not run properly, issuing and serving an election petition, and what happens at the hearing and trial
Register to vote to take part in elections in the UK. Includes how to get on the electoral register and how to update your address on the register.
Key issues and questions for charities to consider based on insights from our casework into campaigning and political activity during previous election periods.
The UK, Canada, Iceland and Norway underline non-recognition of the illegal so-called Presidential elections in Georgia's Abkhazia region on 15 February 2025.
Use this service to apply to vote by proxy in certain elections in the UK. You and your proxy must both be registered to vote in the UK.
A formal response to the Electoral Commission’s reports on elections held in 2024. It sets out the government’s position on each of the recommendations made.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
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