What is a general election? General Elections What is a general election? Let’s find out!

What is a general election? A general election usually happens every five years, when people who are 18 or over can vote for who they would like to represent them in the House of Commons. There are 650 MPs in the House of Commons. Each one represents a different area in the UK.

What happens before the election? Before an election, candidates from different political parties will share their ideas about what they would do if they win. They will try to persuade people to vote for them by explaining why they think their ideas are the best.

Candidates will often give interviews on TV and the radio to outline their views. Candidates will also meet people in their local area. They will try to persuade people to vote for them to become their MP.

Do you know the name of any political parties? Have you ever met an MP?

They need to remember to register to vote! What happens before an election? People over 18 years old have the chance to vote for an MP to represent their local area. They need to remember to register to vote!

Sometimes schools are used as polling stations! What happens on the day of an election? People all over the UK visit polling stations to cast their vote. Sometimes schools are used as polling stations!

the name of the person you are voting for. What happens on the day of an election? At the polling station people receive a ballot paper with a list of candidates names and the parties they represent. X You mark an ‘X’ next to the name of the person you are voting for.

What happens on the day of an election? After the polling stations close, the votes get counted through the night!

What happens after an election? The person with the most votes in each area (constituency) becomes an MP. The elected MP will represent the people from that area in the House of Commons.

What happens after an election? The party that has the most MPs can form a government! The leader of that party will become the Prime Minister.