On December 12, 2019, the next UK Parliamentary general election will take place. On that day, British Citizens eligible to vote will select the 650 Members of Parliament (MPs), who represent a part of the UK called a 'constituency' or 'seat', and who debate the big political issues of the day and proposals for new laws. After the general election, the leader of the party with the most MPs is asked by the Queen to become Prime Minister and to form a government that will run the country. The leader of the party with the second-highest number of MPs becomes the Leader of the Opposition.
Why is it important to vote?
There are the obvious reasons:
making your voice heard in the matters that you care for the most and electing like-minded politicians,
getting politicians to work for you locally because change happens from the bottom up (MP’s represent your local area).
not letting others decide for you.
And there are not so obvious reasons:
even if you think your candidate or party won’t win, your vote gets the winning party one vote away from an absolute majority. Having a balanced parliament, even if it’s not ruled by your candidate or party, helps keep democracy working.
the rights that you and I enjoy today have been won for us by those politicians that we have supported: women’s vote, civil rights, same-sex marriage, equality laws, women’s reproductive rights, etc. If you don’t vote, you are denying yourself and the future generations the possibility and continuity of having those rights.
For more reasons why to vote, visit: votingcounts.org.uk
Who is eligible to vote?
To vote at the UK general election you must be registered to vote and:
18 years of age or over on polling day
be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
be resident at an address in the UK (or a UK citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
not be legally excluded from voting
The following cannot vote in a UK Parliament election:
members of the House of Lords
EU citizens (other than UK, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta) resident in the UK
anyone other than British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens
convicted persons detained in pursuance of their sentences, excluding contempt of court (though remand prisoners, unconvicted prisoners and civil prisoners can vote if they are on the electoral register)
anyone found guilty within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election
Source: www.electoralcommission.org.uk
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