UK voters will go to the polls on Thursday (July 4) to elect a new government as the previous administration has completed its term.
Elections in the United Kingdom are held after the dissolution of Parliament. Under the Dissolution and Summoning of Parliament Act 2022, parliamentary terms last for five years, unless dissolved earlier by the British monarch at the request of the Prime Minister. The day of the vote is not fixed by law, but is held 25 working days after the dissolution of Parliament.
The United Kingdom is divided into 650 constituencies. In a general election, voters in each constituency cast their ballots to elect a Member of Parliament to represent them in the House of Commons. The candidate with the most votes in each constituency becomes the MP for that area and wins a seat in the House of Commons.
This system favours the two largest political parties, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, as they have strong regional support, giving them a greater chance of winning compared to smaller parties with weaker regional support. The party with the most constituencies forms the government with the approval of the British monarch.
If no party wins a majority of 326 seats in the House of Commons, a government can be formed independently or with the support of another party. Once the votes are counted and the results are clear, King Charles III will invite the leader of the party with the most MPs to form a government and become Prime Minister. The party with the second-most MPs will become the opposition.
The new UK Parliament will meet on 9 July for the swearing-in ceremony and the election of the Speaker. This will be followed by the State Opening of Parliament, where the new government will set out its agenda in the King's Speech.
