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UK Parliamentary elections

The last UK general election was held on 6 May 2010. UK Parliamentary by-elections occur when a seat becomes vacant between general elections. For further information on the timing of UK general elections and UK Parliamentary by-elections, please read this House of Commons research paper (PDF).

On this page you will find:

Please note: guidance on this page is only applicable to Great Britain. It does not cover elections in Northern Ireland.

Welsh language resources and guidance

Post-election materials

Timetable

Planning a UK general election 

Performance standards template plans

(Acting) Returning Officers at the 6 May elections have been asked to report against our performance standards by 28 May 2010.

Planning guidance

Voter materials design guidance

We have a dedicated page on our DoPolitics site entitled 'Making your mark', which provides guidance on the format, accessibility and usability of voter materials, as well as downloadable examples of forms and notices.

Guidance manual for (Acting) Returning Officers at a UK general election

We have published a manual for (Acting) Returning Officers on managing a UK Parliamentary general election. The table below can be used to download the individual parts.

Managing a UK general election
Contents (PDF)
Part A - Context (PDF)
Part B - Action before the poll (PDF)
Part C - Absent voting (PDF)
Part D - The poll (PDF)
Part E - Verification and count (PDF)
Part F - After the declaration of result (PDF)
Part G - Combination of polls (PDF)
Part H - Performance standards for Returning Officers in Great Britain (PDF)

Support products for a UK general election

Template briefings for candidates and agents and nominations checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

Polling station handbook and other polling station support products

Postal voting support products 

Count support products

The following support products have been designed to support the preparation for and delivery of a count.

Support products for combined UK general and local government elections in England and Wales

Polling station handbook and other polling station support products

Postal voting support products

Frequently Asked Questions

Data collection and feedback forms

These files contain Form K - statement as to postal ballot papers for the UK Parliamentary general election, instructions on completing Form K and an additional data form with accompanying guidance. 

Completed data collection forms should be returned to the LGC Elections Centre at Plymouth University:

By email to: elections@plymouth.ac.uk

By post to: Brian Cheal, Local Government Chronicle Elections Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA

By fax to: 01752 232785

Guidance and forms for candidates and agents at a UK Parliamentary general election 

The deadline for nominating candidates has now passed. For further guidance on complying with election spending rules, visit our candidates and agents page

Elections and Registration Working Group

This group was set up to provide the Commission with advice and support in the development and delivery of its support programme, and helped to ensure that the products and guidance we provided best meet the needs of those conducting and standing in elections. The group included electoral administrators from local authorities representing the electoral regions in Great Britain, along with representatives from the Association of Electoral Administrators, the Scottish Assessors Association and the Ministry of Justice.

For minutes and agendas for meetings in the run-up to the 2010 UK general election, please contact your local Electoral Commission office.

To find out more about the Elections and referendums steering group, visit our Elections and referendums steering group page.