## Learning Outcomes

- Identify who can vote in UK elections and why registration matters
- Understand how MPs are elected in a General Election using first past the post
- Explain how a government is formed, including coalitions when no party has a majority
- Know the practical steps for voting (poll card, polling station times, ballot paper)

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand how UK elections work and how governments are formed, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that MPs are elected at a General Election held at least every five years, and that a by-election happens if an MP dies or resigns
- Understand first past the post: the candidate with the most votes in a constituency becomes the MP
- Know who can vote in public elections in the UK and the need to be on the electoral register
- Understand where and how people vote, including polling station opening times (7.00 am to 10.00 pm) and the secret ballot
- Explain how the government is formed after an election, including what happens in a hung Parliament and what a coalition is
- Know the monarch’s formal role in appointing the Prime Minister and government after an election

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What is a parliamentary constituency, and how many MPs does it elect?
2. What does “first past the post” mean in UK General Elections?
3. Who can vote in all public elections in the UK?
4. What are the opening times for polling stations on election day?
5. What is a coalition government, and when might it be formed?

## Introduction

Elections decide who represents people in the House of Commons and, in practice, which party (or parties) will run the country. For the Life in the UK Test, you must know the basics: who can vote, how to register, how votes translate into MPs, and how a government is formed after the results.

These topics matter because the UK is a parliamentary democracy. Voters do not directly elect the Prime Minister. Instead, voters elect MPs, and the government is formed from the party (or parties) that can control the House of Commons.

> **Key Term: parliamentary democracy**
> A system where the public elects representatives (MPs) to Parliament, and the government is formed from those representatives.

### Who can vote and how to register

In the UK, the right to vote has expanded over time. Today, the voting age for most public elections is 18 (set in 1969). However, being eligible is not enough on its own—your name must also be on the electoral register.

> **Key Term: electoral register**
> The official list of people who are registered and allowed to vote in elections.

Who can vote (general rule for the test)
Adult citizens of the UK, and citizens of the Commonwealth and Ireland who are resident in the UK, can vote in all public elections.

Why registration matters
You cannot vote in a parliamentary or local election unless you are registered. Registration is handled by your local council’s electoral registration office.

How the register is updated

- In Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales), the register is updated each year in September or October. A form is sent to households and must be completed with the names of those living there who are eligible.
- Northern Ireland uses a different approach called individual registration: each eligible person completes their own form, and they remain registered unless their details change.

Viewing the electoral register
By law, local authorities must make the register available for supervised inspection. It is usually held at the electoral registration office (or council office) and can also be available in public buildings such as libraries.

> **Test Tip:** If a question asks what you need before you can vote, the safest short answer is: be eligible and be on the electoral register. Registration is a common exam trap.

### General Elections, constituencies, and first past the post

A General Election chooses Members of Parliament (MPs) for the House of Commons. The UK is divided into many areas for this purpose.

> **Key Term: constituency**
> A local area that elects one MP to the House of Commons.

General Elections: timing
A General Election must be held at least every five years. Each election is a national event, but voting and results are counted constituency by constituency.

By-elections
If an MP dies or resigns, a new election is held in that constituency. This is called a by-election. A by-election changes only that single seat, not the whole Parliament.

How MPs are elected: first past the post
The UK uses “first past the post” (FPTP) to elect MPs. In each constituency:

- several candidates may stand (often representing different political parties, and sometimes as independents)
- the candidate who gets the most votes wins the seat and becomes the MP
- the winner does not need to gain more than 50% of the votes—only more votes than any other candidate

This system often produces a clear winner nationally, because it turns many separate constituency results into a majority of seats in the House of Commons.

How this links to government
After all constituencies declare their results, the party with the most MPs will usually be able to form a government. Most of the time, this is the party with an overall majority of MPs.

> **Test Tip:** Under first past the post, elections are decided by who wins the most constituencies (seats), not necessarily by who wins the most votes across the whole UK.

### How to vote: polling stations, ballot papers, and the secret ballot

Voting is designed to be private and free from pressure. The key practical steps and basic protections are as follows.

Where you vote
People vote at polling stations (called polling places in Scotland). Before an election you will usually receive a poll card, which tells you:

- the location of your polling station (or polling place)
- the date of the election

Opening times
On election day, polling stations are open from **7.00 am to 10.00 pm**.

What happens at the polling station
When you arrive, staff will ask for your name and address. In Northern Ireland, you must also show photographic identification.

You will be given a ballot paper, which you take to a polling booth to complete privately. You then place it into the ballot box.

The secret ballot and free choice
UK elections use a secret ballot. You must be able to vote without anyone seeing how you voted, and you should make your own decision. No one has the right to force you to vote for a particular candidate.

> **Key Term: secret ballot**
> A voting method where each person’s vote is private, so they cannot be pressured or punished for how they voted.

Following instructions
Ballot papers contain clear instructions (for example, how to mark your choice). Completing the ballot incorrectly can mean your vote is not counted, so you must follow the instructions carefully.

### Forming a government: majority rule, coalitions, and the monarch’s role

The government is formed from the House of Commons, because the House of Commons is the elected chamber. The key idea is simple: the government needs enough support in the Commons to pass laws and budgets.

The most common outcome: a majority government
The government is usually formed by the party that wins the majority of constituencies (seats) in the House of Commons. When a party has a majority of MPs, it can normally:

- pass legislation more easily
- win key votes in the Commons
- keep stable control of government business

The leader of that party becomes Prime Minister and chooses ministers.

When no party has a majority: hung Parliament
Sometimes no single party wins enough MPs for a majority. This situation is often described as a hung Parliament. The key point is what happens next: parties may try to reach an agreement so that a government can be formed.

> **Key Term: coalition**
> An arrangement where two parties join together to form a government, usually because no party has an overall majority of MPs.

In a coalition, parties share power by agreeing a joint programme and taking ministerial roles. This allows them to control a majority (or workable support) in the Commons.

The monarch’s formal role
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. This means the monarch does not personally make policy decisions. After a General Election, the monarch invites the leader of the party with the largest number of MPs—or the leader of a coalition—to form a government and become Prime Minister.

This is a formal constitutional step. Day-to-day decisions on government policy are made by the Prime Minister and the cabinet, not by the monarch.

The Prime Minister and cabinet (link to elections)
Once appointed, the Prime Minister:

- leads the government
- appoints around 20 senior MPs as cabinet ministers
- lives officially at **10 Downing Street** in London and has a country residence called **Chequers**

Cabinet ministers include major roles such as:

- Chancellor of the Exchequer (the economy)
- Home Secretary (crime, policing, immigration)
- Foreign Secretary (foreign relations)

These roles matter in exam questions because they connect the election result to how the country is actually run.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- The UK is a parliamentary democracy where voters elect MPs, not the Prime Minister directly
- A General Election elects MPs to the House of Commons and must be held at least every five years
- Each constituency elects one MP
- The UK uses first past the post: the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins
- A by-election is held if an MP dies or resigns
- To vote, you must be eligible and on the electoral register
- The electoral register is updated annually in Great Britain; Northern Ireland uses individual registration
- People vote at polling stations (polling places in Scotland) and receive a poll card with details
- Polling stations are open from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm on election day
- Voting is private through the secret ballot, and no one can force you to vote a certain way
- The government is usually formed by the party that wins a majority of MPs; if not, parties may form a coalition
- The monarch formally invites the leader of the largest party (or a coalition) to form a government

## Key Terms and Concepts

- parliamentary democracy
- electoral register
- constituency
- secret ballot
- coalition


Parliament and elections - Elections, voting, and forming a government