Elections and referendums

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and referendums</a><ul><li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/referendum-on-the-alternative-vote/">Referendum on electing MPs</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/referendums-held-in-the-uk/">Referendums held in the UK</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/register/">Register to vote</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/voting/">Voting in an election</a></li><li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/standing/">Standing for Parliament</a></li></ul></li></ul> </div> <div id="content" class="three-column"> <div id="content-small"> <a name="skipToContent"></a> <h1 id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_HeadingOne_ctlHeadingH1_h1Item"> Elections and referendums </h1> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120117015500im_/http://assets4.parliament.uk/iv/main-large/id_2261.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_PageContent_ctlRichMediaControl_SimpleImage_imgMainImage" alt=""/>  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Find out how to register to vote and how you can take part in an election or a referendum. Also find out what previous referendums have been held in the UK.</p> </div>  <div class="tabs-wrapper parent"> </div> <div id="sub-landing-basic"> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/referendum-on-the-alternative-vote/">Referendum on electing MPs</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>The first UK-wide referendum since 1975 was held on 5 May 2011 on changing the voting system to elect MPs to the House of Commons.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/referendums-held-in-the-uk/">Referendums held in the UK</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>There have been nine previous referendums held in the UK, the majority have been on issues related to devolution.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/register/">Register to vote</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>You need to be on the electoral register in order to vote in UK elections and referendums. The electoral register is a list of names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in the UK.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/voting/">Voting in an election</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>There are three different ways you can vote in the UK, in person at a polling station, by post or by proxy.</p> </div> </div> <div class="section-promotion">  <h2><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/elections/standing/">Standing for Parliament</a></h2>  <div class="inner"> <p>If you are interested in standing as a candidate in the UK General Election you will first need to find out if you are eligible.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="panel"> <div class="local-module">  <h2>Related information</h2>  <div class="local-module-content"> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl00_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText"> </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl01_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Voting systems in the UK</strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Find out what voting systems are used to elect the House of Commons, Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly, European Parliament and local authorities in the UK.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/voting-systems/">Voting systems in the UK</a></li></ul> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl02_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"> <strong>Election and referendum basics </strong> </a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p>Parliament's Education Service supports young people's understanding of Parliament and democracy. Learn more about elections, referendums and voting systems.</p> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/education/online-resources/subject-guides/elections/">Subject guides: Voting systems</a></li></ul> </div>  </div> <div class="itemImageWithTitle"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_hypLink"></a> </div> <div class="itemText">  <div class="rte main-introduction"> <p></p><div> <h3>Living Heritage</h3> <p>Learn how the right to vote has been extended to different sectors of society over the years</p></div> </div>  <ul class="square-bullets"> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl00_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/">Women and the vote</a> </li> <li id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_liItem"> <a id="ctl00_ctl00_SiteSpecificPlaceholder_ctlRightHandModuleContainer_ctl00_rptLocalModuleItems_ctl03_ctlLocalModuleItem_ctlRelatedLinks_rptRelatedLinks_ctl01_hypRelatedLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/chartists/">Chartists</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p class="marker">Footer links</p> <ul> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl01_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/azindex/">A-Z index</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl02_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl03_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/contact-us/">Contact us</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl04_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/foi/">Freedom of Information</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl05_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/job-opportunities/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl06_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/using-this-website/">Using this website</a></li> <li><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl07_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/">Copyright</a></li> <li class="last"><a id="ctl00_ctl00_ctlGlobalFooter_ctlNavigationLinks_rptLinks_ctl08_hypLink" href="/web/20120117015500/http://www.parliament.uk/site-information/privacy/">Cookies</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ Sys.Application.initialize(); //]]> </script> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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Elections and referendums - UK Parliament