Guidance for (Acting) Returning Officers administering a UK Parliamentary election in Great Britain

The election timetable

We have published a non-date specific timetable for UK Parliamentary general elections and by-elections containing the statutory deadlines as set out in the election rules, which can be used to assist you in your planning. 

A date-specific timetable will be available on our website when the next UK Parliamentary general election is announced.

You should ensure that you have contingency arrangements in place to enable you to respond and deliver a well-run election should a general election be called at short notice or a by-election arise. Once an election has been called you will need to review your plans and develop arrangements for the specific context and timetable of the poll.

Although they are ERO functions, further information on the Voter Authority Certificate and Anonymous Elector's Document application deadline can be found here for England, Scotland, and Wales

You can also find further information on the postal vote deadlines for England, Scotland, and Wales, and proxy vote deadlines for England, Scotland, and Wales in our ERO guidance.

Last updated: 12 November 2024