Election glossary
Elections use many technical terms. This briefing gives a glossary of election related terms.
Voting systems in the UK
UK elections use different voting systems. This briefing explains which systems are used for which election and how they work.
Voter ID
This briefing explains the rules about showing photographic voter ID at elections to the UK Parliament and to other elections.
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Research Briefing
Electoral Commission strategy and policy statement
The UK Government has announced it intends to abolish the power for the government to set a strategy and policy statement for the Electoral Commission.
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Research Briefing
Weekend voting
Polling day for UK elections is usually Thursday and cannot be held at a weekend. Weekend voting pilots were held in four areas in local elections in May 2026.
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Research Briefing
Flexible voting pilots
The UK Government authorised early and flexible voting pilot schemes in England in May 2026. Further pilots are due in May 2027.
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Research Briefing
Electoral registers and access to them
Registers list who has registered to vote. This briefing explains registration, who has access to registers and proposals for automation to improve registration rates.
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Research Briefing
Political disengagement in the UK: who is disengaged?
Some groups are more politically engaged than others. The government has proposed policies to improve engagement, including lowering the voting age to 16.
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Research Briefing
Representation of the People Bill: progress of the bill
This briefing tracks the progress of the bill to introduce votes at 16, automatic voter registration, tighten the rules on political donations and allow bank cards to be used as voter ID.
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Research Briefing
Leadership elections: Labour Party
Labour Party leader and deputy leadership election are held by rules set out by the party’s Rule Book. This briefing describes them and outlines previous contests.
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Research Briefing
General Election Dates 1832-2024
A list of all UK General elections dates since 1832.
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Research Briefing
Election timetables
Election rules include a timetable that must be followed. This briefing explains what is in the timetables and how long they run.
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Constituency casework,Research Briefing
Voter Authority Certificates: a quick guide
Voter Authority Certificates (VACs), a free type of voter ID, are available to people without any other accepted form of photo ID.
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Research Briefing
By-election timetables
Election rules state elections must be held using a set timetable. This briefing explains the timetable for by-elections to the UK Parliament.
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Constituency casework,Research Briefing
Implementing electoral reviews in England
A quick guide to how ward boundary reviews are implemented in England.
Total results (page 1 of 11)