1. Electoral Structure: The UK follows a parliamentary democracy system. It is composed of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Elections are held at the national level to elect representatives to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
2. Parliament of the United Kingdom: The Parliament of the United Kingdom consists of two houses – the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
3. House of Commons: The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament. It has 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected from constituencies across the UK. Each constituency elects one MP through a first-past-the-post voting system. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in a constituency wins the seat.
4. House of Lords: The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament. It is composed of appointed members, including life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. The House of Lords does not have elected representatives.
5. Voting System: The general election in the UK uses a first-past-the-post voting system for the House of Commons. Voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate in their constituency, and the candidate with the highest number of votes is elected as the Member of Parliament for that constituency.
6. Election Timing: The Prime Minister of the UK has the authority to call for a general election. The regular term for the House of Commons is five years, but elections can be held earlier if the government loses a vote of confidence or if the Prime Minister decides to dissolve the Parliament.
7. Electoral Commission: The Electoral Commission is an independent body responsible for overseeing elections and referendums in the UK. It ensures the fairness and transparency of the electoral process, including voter registration, candidate nominations, and the conduct of elections.
8. Voter Eligibility: To be eligible to vote in national elections in the UK, a person must be a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, at least 18 years old on the day of the election, and registered on the electoral roll.
