How often are general elections held in the UK?
General elections in the United Kingdom must be held at least every five years. A Parliament automatically dissolves five years after it first meets, but the Prime Minister can ask the monarch to call an election earlier.
Under the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022, the Prime Minister can request an early dissolution. This restored the system that existed before 2011.
Between 2011 and 2022, the Fixed-term Parliaments Act set fixed five-year terms, though early elections were still held in 2017 and 2019.
Election day
General elections are usually held on Thursdays. Voters choose an MP for their local constituency, and there are 650 constituencies.
The first-past-the-post system means the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, even without a majority.
Results are usually announced overnight, and the new government is often formed the next day.
Local elections, mayoral elections and elections to the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland take place separately.
Polling stations are often set up in schools, churches and community halls, and voters can also vote by post or by proxy. Since 2023, voters in Great Britain must show photo identification at polling stations.