Bầu Cử và Bỏ Phiếu
The Electoral System
General elections must be held at least every five years. The PM can call an early election with Parliament's agreement. Voters in each of the 650 constituencies choose one MP using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system — the candidate with the most votes wins.
Main UK political parties include: the Conservative Party (Tories), Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru (Party of Wales), Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland), and the Green Party.
To vote in general elections, you must be 18 or over and be a UK citizen, an Irish citizen living in the UK, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK. EU citizens can vote in local elections but not general elections.
You must register on the electoral register (electoral roll) to vote. Registration is not automatic — you must apply online, by post, or in person. Providing your details when asked is a legal requirement, but voting itself is a right, not a legal duty. No one is punished for not voting.
A by-election fills a vacant seat between general elections (e.g. if an MP dies or resigns). Only the affected constituency votes.
To stand for election, you must be 18+ and a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. Civil servants, members of the armed forces, serving police officers, and members of the House of Lords cannot stand for the Commons.
General elections must be held at least every 5 years
UK general elections use first-past-the-post: candidate with most votes wins
To vote you must be 18+, and a UK citizen, Irish citizen in UK, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
You must register on the electoral register to vote; voting is a right, not a legal duty
A by-election is held when an MP seat becomes vacant between general elections
Từ vựng
A nationwide vote to elect all 650 MPs
A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins
The official list of people eligible to vote
An election held to fill a vacancy between general elections
A geographical area represented by one MP
Tóm tắt bài học
- General elections are held at least every 5 years using first-past-the-post across 650 constituencies
- Voters must be 18+: UK citizens, Irish citizens in the UK, or qualifying Commonwealth citizens
- You must register on the electoral register to vote; voting is a right, not a legal duty
- By-elections fill vacant seats between general elections
- To stand for election you must be 18+; civil servants, armed forces, and police officers cannot stand
- Major parties: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Plaid Cymru, DUP, Sinn Fein, Green