Parliamentary constituencies

The UK is currently divided into 650 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 68,175.

Constituency breakdown

There are currently 533 constituencies in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.

Boundary Commissions

Constituency boundaries were kept under review by four permanent Boundary Commissions, one each for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Commissions made reports at regular intervals recommending any necessary changes due to population change or changes in local government boundaries.

Voting Process

http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/faq/voting-and-registration/who-is-eligible-to-vote-at-a-general-election

https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

Who is eligible to vote at a UK general election?

To vote in a UK general election a person must be registered to vote and also:

• be 18 years of age or over on polling day
• be a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote

Additionally, the following cannot vote in a UK general election:

• members of the House of Lords (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
• EU citizens resident in the UK (although they can vote at elections to local authorities, devolved legislatures and the European Parliament)
• anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens
• convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences (though remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)
• anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election

Registering to vote

You need to be on the electoral register to vote in UK elections and referendums. You are not automatically registered even if you pay council tax. The electoral register is the list of everyone who is registered to vote.

In the UK, there are three different ways you can vote. How you vote is up to you. It may depend on what you find easiest or the most convenient method. Most people vote in person at a polling station. However, if you are not able to go to the polling station in person on election day, you can apply to vote by post or by proxy (someone voting on your behalf).

Voting in person

Most people in the UK choose to cast their vote in person at a local polling station. Voting at a polling station is very straightforward and there is always a member of staff available to help if you're not sure what to do.

If you are on the electoral register, you will receive a poll card before the election telling you where and when to vote. The polling station is often a school or local hall near where you live. The poll card is for your information only, and you do not need to take it to the polling station in order to vote.

The following five steps explain how to vote at your polling station on election day:

On election day, go to your local polling station. Polling station opening hours are 7am - 10pm. If you are disabled and need assistance getting to the polling station, contact your electoral registration office to find out what help is available. You can also ask to have a companion with you when you vote, or staff in the polling station may be able to help you.

Tell the staff inside the polling station your name and address so they can check that you are on the electoral register. You can show them your poll card, but you do not need it to vote.

The staff at the polling station will give you a ballot paper listing the parties and candidates you can vote for. It will be stamped with an official mark. You may be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election on the same day. If you have a visual impairment, you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret.

Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote. Read the ballot paper carefully, it will tell you how to cast your vote. Do not write anything else on the paper or your vote may not be counted.

Finally, when you have marked your vote, fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. Do not let anyone see your vote. If you are not clear on what to do, ask the staff at the polling station to help you.

Voting by post

Voting by post is an easy and convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. To vote by post, you need to be on the electoral register. Then you need to fill in a postal vote application form. After completing the form, you’ll need to print it, sign it, and send it back to your local electoral registration office.

You need to sign your application form personally because the electoral registration office needs a copy of your signature for voting security reasons. We know it’s slightly less convenient than submitting it online, but it helps to ensure the security of your vote and is used to tackle electoral fraud.

Anyone aged 18 or over who is on the electoral register can apply for a postal vote. You do not need a reason to vote by post.

A postal vote can be sent to your home address or to any other address that you give. Postal votes can be sent overseas, but you need to consider whether there will be enough time to receive and return your ballot paper by election day.

Postal votes are usually sent out about a week before election day. Once you’ve got it, mark your vote on the ballot paper and make sure you send it back so that it arrives by close of poll (which is 10pm on election day). If it arrives later than this your vote won’t be counted.

Voting by proxy

Voting by proxy is a convenient way of voting if you are unable to get to the polling station. By proxy just means that you appoint someone you trust to vote on your behalf. This section tells you how voting by proxy works.

Voting by proxy can be useful if you fall ill and are unable to get to the polling station on election day, or if you are abroad during an election. It can be particularly useful if you are overseas in a country too far away to send back a postal vote in time for the election (for instance, if you are in the Armed Forces and deployed overseas).

To vote by proxy, you’ll need to fill in an application form. You’ll need to print the form and complete it, then sign it, and send it back to your local electoral registration office. You need to sign your application form personally.

You can apply for a proxy vote as long as you are on the electoral register. When you apply for a proxy vote you have to provide a reason. You can apply for a proxy vote if:

· You are unable to go to the polling station for one particular election, for example, if you are away on holiday

· You have a physical condition that means you cannot go to the polling station on election day

· Your employment means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day

· Your attendance on an educational course means that you cannot go to the polling station on election day

· You are a British citizen living overseas

· You are a crown servant or a member of Her Majesty's Armed Forces

The deadline for applying to vote by proxy is normally 6 working days before an election. However, if you have a medical emergency 6 days before election day or after, you can apply to vote by emergency proxy if the emergency means that you cannot go to the polling station in person.

Anyone can be your proxy as long as they are eligible to vote in that type of election and they are willing to vote on your behalf. You cannot be a proxy for more than two people at any one election, unless they are a close relative.

2.3 Choose a party from the list:

Conservative Party; Labour Party; Liberal Democrats; Plaid Cymru; Scottish National Party; Sinn Féin; Democratic Unionist Party; Green Party; Social Democratic and Labour Party; British National Party.

Visit their official website and find some additional information about the party in any other sources. Prepare a presentation about the party of your choice, covering:

Ø history of the party

Ø party symbols

Ø party leaders

Ø political programme and priorities – speak about several key issues such as international politics and relations with the European Union, immigration, environment, employment and welfare, social care and health care, education, crime, etc.

Ø current position in the parliament and overall popularity; where does it have major support geographically.