UK general elections

A UK general election is an election where voters in the UK vote to choose Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent them in the House of Commons.

There are 650 parliamentary constituencies in the UK. Each constituency elects one MP using the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting system. Under the FPTP system, each voter marks one cross (X) next to their preferred candidate on the ballot paper. The candidate who wins the most votes in each constituency is elected.

The political party that has a majority of MPs (326 MPs or more) forms the UK Government. The leader of that party usually becomes the prime minister.

View more information about MPs and how Parliament works on the UK Parliament website.

When general elections are held

The maximum interval between general elections is five years, but they can be called earlier.

The last UK general election was Thursday 4 July 2024, with the Labour Party winning a commanding majority.

The next general election must be called by August 2029. However, an election can be held earlier if Parliament is dissolved before the end of the five-year period.

If an MP resigns, dies or becomes disqualified during their term of office, a by-election is held to fill the vacancy in their constituency.

View more information on how general elections work on the UK Parliament website.

Who can vote at general elections

You can vote in a UK general election if you are all of the below:

• Registered to vote in Bath and North East Somerset
• Aged 18 or over on polling day
• A British or Irish citizen, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen

EU citizens cannot vote in UK parliamentary general elections unless they are Irish, Cypriot or Maltese.

British citizens living abroad can vote at UK parliamentary general elections if they are registered to vote as British citizens living overseas.

Standing as a candidate

To be able to stand as a candidate at a UK general election you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a British citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or an eligible Commonwealth citizen

Citizens of other countries are not eligible to become an MP.

View the Electoral Commission Guidance for candidates and agents at general elections.

Parliamentary constituencies

There are three parliamentary constituencies in, or partly in, Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath

The constituency of Bath covers the whole of the city of Bath, together with some rural areas to the north and east of the city.

View Bath constituency on a map.

North East Somerset and Hanham

The constituency of North East Somerset and Hanham covers parts of North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

View North East Somerset and Hanham constituency on a map.

Frome and East Somerset

The constituency of Frome and East Somerset covers parts of Somerset and North East Somerset.

View Frome and East Somerset constituency on a map.
 

You can find your constituency and MP using the UK Parliament’s member search tool.