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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.

UK Parliamentary general election results - 6 May 2010

Elections in Great Britain are run on a constituency by constituency basis. This means verified results are not collected centrally. However, results are available from other sources including the BBC. We will publish full verified results in the months following the election.

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 manual is available in the table below for download in parts in both English and Welsh.

Managing a UK general election (English) Managing a UK general election (Welsh)
Contents (PDF) Cynnwys (PDF)
Part A - Context (PDF) Rhan A - Cyd-destun (PDF)
Part B - Action before the poll (PDF) Rhan B - Gweithredu cyn y pleidleisio (PDF)
Part C - Absent voting (PDF) Rhan C - Pleidleisio absennol (PDF)
Part D - The poll (PDF) Rhan CH - Y pleidlesio (PDF)
Part E - Verification and count (PDF) Rhan D - Dilysu a chyfrif (PDF)
Part F - After the declaration of result (PDF) Rhan DD - Ar ol cyhoeddi'r canlyniad (PDF)
Part G - Combination of polls (PDF) Rhan E - Cyfuno pleidleisiau (PDF)
Part H - Performance standards for Returning Officers in Great Britain (PDF) Rhan F - Safonau perfformiad i Swyddogion Canlyniadau ym Mhrydain Fawr (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

    • Advice on designing voter materials and sample notices are provided in the 'Making your mark' section of our DoPolitics website.

    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. Please note that these forms were updated on Friday 9 April.

    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

    The forms below offer an opportunity for (Acting) Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers to comment on their experience of administering the 2010 UK Parliamentary general election and evaluation of the Commission's support materials.

    Completed feedback forms should be returned to your local English or Devolved Office. Contact details can be found in EC04/2010.

    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 has been set up to provide the Commission with advice and support in the development and delivery of its support programme, and helps to ensure that the products and guidance we provide best meet the needs of those conducting and standing in elections. The group includes 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.