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| Guide to the 2014 European and local elections | Guide to the 2014 European and local elections |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| What's happening? | What's happening? |
| On Thursday 22 May there are local council elections in England and Northern Ireland - but the big one this year is the European election on the same day. It is the only time outside of a general election when all 46 million voters can take part. The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution in the European Union. So this is your chance to decide who represents you in Brussels and Strasbourg (Yes, they still shuttle between the two parliament buildings at regular intervals). | On Thursday 22 May there are local council elections in England and Northern Ireland - but the big one this year is the European election on the same day. It is the only time outside of a general election when all 46 million voters can take part. The European Parliament is the only directly elected institution in the European Union. So this is your chance to decide who represents you in Brussels and Strasbourg (Yes, they still shuttle between the two parliament buildings at regular intervals). |
| How do I know if I can vote? | How do I know if I can vote? |
| Most people should have, or will soon, receive polling cards through the post. But even if you don't get one, or you lose yours, don't worry - you can vote as long as you are registered by 6 May. Anyone over 18 on 22 May who is a British citizen living in the UK, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland living in the UK, or an EU citizen living in the UK can vote if there is a local election where they live. British citizens living overseas can also vote in the European elections provided they have registered as overseas electors. EU citizens living in the UK can only vote in the European Parliament elections if they don't vote in their home member state. | Most people should have, or will soon, receive polling cards through the post. But even if you don't get one, or you lose yours, don't worry - you can vote as long as you are registered by 6 May. Anyone over 18 on 22 May who is a British citizen living in the UK, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland living in the UK, or an EU citizen living in the UK can vote if there is a local election where they live. British citizens living overseas can also vote in the European elections provided they have registered as overseas electors. EU citizens living in the UK can only vote in the European Parliament elections if they don't vote in their home member state. |
| How do I vote? | How do I vote? |
| You can go to your nearest polling station on 22 May. It is normally a local school or community centre - the location will be on your polling card. You do not need to take the polling card with you in order to vote. A member of staff will give you a ballot paper with a list of candidates and parties on it. Put a cross in the box next to the ones you want to vote for. If you can't make it to the polling station you can apply for a postal vote - check the Electoral Commission website for details. You can get someone to vote for you if you have a specific reason that you can't do it in person, such as a disability or being overseas. You can apply for a long-term proxy vote on the Electoral Commission website. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason, such as illness or being away with work. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 5pm on polling day. | You can go to your nearest polling station on 22 May. It is normally a local school or community centre - the location will be on your polling card. You do not need to take the polling card with you in order to vote. A member of staff will give you a ballot paper with a list of candidates and parties on it. Put a cross in the box next to the ones you want to vote for. If you can't make it to the polling station you can apply for a postal vote - check the Electoral Commission website for details. You can get someone to vote for you if you have a specific reason that you can't do it in person, such as a disability or being overseas. You can apply for a long-term proxy vote on the Electoral Commission website. To vote by proxy for just one election, you must have a reason, such as illness or being away with work. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 5pm on polling day. |
| Why do the local elections matter? | Why do the local elections matter? |
| They are a chance to decide who runs your local services - everything from refuse collection to pavement potholes and children's services. The results can also send a signal to the parties at Westminster with a year to go before the next general election. There are elections in 161 councils in England and 11 in Northern Ireland. | They are a chance to decide who runs your local services - everything from refuse collection to pavement potholes and children's services. The results can also send a signal to the parties at Westminster with a year to go before the next general election. There are elections in 161 councils in England and 11 in Northern Ireland. |
| Why do the European elections matter? | Why do the European elections matter? |
| The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body in the European Union. So it is the one chance you get to to decide who represents you. The European Parliament has more power than it used to, although most EU legislation still comes from the unelected European Commission. Nobody wins the European elections - there are no government and opposition benches like at Westminster. But the make-up of the new Parliament is likely to have a decisive influence on the future direction of the EU - particularly if, as expected, there is a large block of Eurosceptic MEPs. In the UK, the result can have a big impact on a party's mood and their leader's prospects ahead of the 2015 general election. Check out their election broadcasts to get a feel for how they are pitching it. | The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body in the European Union. So it is the one chance you get to to decide who represents you. The European Parliament has more power than it used to, although most EU legislation still comes from the unelected European Commission. Nobody wins the European elections - there are no government and opposition benches like at Westminster. But the make-up of the new Parliament is likely to have a decisive influence on the future direction of the EU - particularly if, as expected, there is a large block of Eurosceptic MEPs. In the UK, the result can have a big impact on a party's mood and their leader's prospects ahead of the 2015 general election. Check out their election broadcasts to get a feel for how they are pitching it. |
| So how does the European voting system work, exactly? | So how does the European voting system work, exactly? |
| Britain is one of eight countries - including Germany and France - to use a "closed list" system. So you vote for a party, rather than an individual. The parties themselves decide who goes on the candidate list for each of the 12 electoral regions. The ones at the top stand the best chance of being elected. | Britain is one of eight countries - including Germany and France - to use a "closed list" system. So you vote for a party, rather than an individual. The parties themselves decide who goes on the candidate list for each of the 12 electoral regions. The ones at the top stand the best chance of being elected. |
| What's at stake for the British parties? | What's at stake for the British parties? |
| The party that gets the biggest share of the vote will be seen as the winner. In 2009, this was the Conservatives. The battle for the top spot this time, if the opinion polls are anything to go by, will be between Labour and UKIP. With a year to go before a general election, leader Ed Miliband is under pressure to show both the doubters in his own party and the public at large that he stands a realistic chance of winning it. Labour is certain to make gains - the last time these seats were contested, in 2009, the party's popularity was hitting an all-time low under Gordon Brown. The Conservatives may be overtaken by UKIP - a result which would add a fresh dose of Eurosceptic rocket fuel to David Cameron's already combustible back benches - and stoke fears Nigel Farage's party will scupper their chances at the general election. Mr Farage has broken every rule in the book by predicting a UKIP victory. If his party falls short critics will start to wonder if the UKIP bubble has burst. They are neck-and-neck with Labour in the polls. The Lib Dems have got used to taking a battering in elections but it will be particularly humiliating, for a proudly pro-European party, to lose all their seats at Brussels. That is the fear in the party. Nick Clegg tried to get them in the game with his TV debate against Nigel Farage and, despite polls saying he lost, it might just work. Or not. The Green Party show little sign of their promised breakthrough at this year's Euros, according to the polls. Hanging on to their existing two MEPs would count as a result. The British National Party made a historic breakthrough in 2009 - gaining its first two MEPs - but little has gone right for them since. They face an uphill battle to retain their seats. | The party that gets the biggest share of the vote will be seen as the winner. In 2009, this was the Conservatives. The battle for the top spot this time, if the opinion polls are anything to go by, will be between Labour and UKIP. With a year to go before a general election, leader Ed Miliband is under pressure to show both the doubters in his own party and the public at large that he stands a realistic chance of winning it. Labour is certain to make gains - the last time these seats were contested, in 2009, the party's popularity was hitting an all-time low under Gordon Brown. The Conservatives may be overtaken by UKIP - a result which would add a fresh dose of Eurosceptic rocket fuel to David Cameron's already combustible back benches - and stoke fears Nigel Farage's party will scupper their chances at the general election. Mr Farage has broken every rule in the book by predicting a UKIP victory. If his party falls short critics will start to wonder if the UKIP bubble has burst. They are neck-and-neck with Labour in the polls. The Lib Dems have got used to taking a battering in elections but it will be particularly humiliating, for a proudly pro-European party, to lose all their seats at Brussels. That is the fear in the party. Nick Clegg tried to get them in the game with his TV debate against Nigel Farage and, despite polls saying he lost, it might just work. Or not. The Green Party show little sign of their promised breakthrough at this year's Euros, according to the polls. Hanging on to their existing two MEPs would count as a result. The British National Party made a historic breakthrough in 2009 - gaining its first two MEPs - but little has gone right for them since. They face an uphill battle to retain their seats. |
| What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? | What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland? |
| The contest in Scotland will inevitably be seen as dry run for September's independence referendum. A recent poll suggested the SNP will gain the most MEPs, adding to its tally of two, with Labour retaining two seats. In Wales, the stage is set for a fascinating contest. In 2009, four parties shared the spoils - with one MEP each for Labour, the Conservatives, UKIP, and Plaid Cymru. If any party wins two seats - polling suggests it could be Labour - one of the others will lose out. Who will blink first? Northern Ireland is very different to the rest of the UK when it comes to the Euros. MEPs are elected using the Single Transferable Vote system - there are no party lists and you vote for a candidate by order of preference rather than a party. Ten candidates are vying for three seats. | The contest in Scotland will inevitably be seen as dry run for September's independence referendum. A recent poll suggested the SNP will gain the most MEPs, adding to its tally of two, with Labour retaining two seats. In Wales, the stage is set for a fascinating contest. In 2009, four parties shared the spoils - with one MEP each for Labour, the Conservatives, UKIP, and Plaid Cymru. If any party wins two seats - polling suggests it could be Labour - one of the others will lose out. Who will blink first? Northern Ireland is very different to the rest of the UK when it comes to the Euros. MEPs are elected using the Single Transferable Vote system - there are no party lists and you vote for a candidate by order of preference rather than a party. Ten candidates are vying for three seats. |
| And the smaller parties? | And the smaller parties? |
| Smaller parties love the European elections because since 1999 it has used proportional representation. This year's crop of hopefuls include the English Democrats, which campaigns for English independence, and An Independence From Europe, founded by former UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass, both of which are running full slates of candidates. The Christian People's Alliance, and No2EU, a left-wing Eurosceptic party founded by the late RMT leader Bob Crow, are the next two largest parties, by numbers of candidates. | Smaller parties love the European elections because since 1999 it has used proportional representation. This year's crop of hopefuls include the English Democrats, which campaigns for English independence, and An Independence From Europe, founded by former UKIP MEP Mike Nattrass, both of which are running full slates of candidates. The Christian People's Alliance, and No2EU, a left-wing Eurosceptic party founded by the late RMT leader Bob Crow, are the next two largest parties, by numbers of candidates. |
| A big day in London | A big day in London |
| Every seat in all 32 London boroughs - more than 1,800 in total - is up for grabs on Thursday, 22 May. This has not happened since the day of the general election in 2010, when Labour bucked the national trend by getting 36.4% of the vote to the Conservatives 34.5%. Ed Miliband's party lost to Boris Johnson in the 2012 mayoral contest. They will be looking to avenge that and show they are on the road to Downing Street. The party is targeting Tory-controlled outer London boroughs such as Croydon and Barnet. Hammersmith and Fulham - a flagship Tory council - would be the ultimate prize but David Cameron's party will be fighting hard to retain it. Mayoral elections are also taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham - all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term - and Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman is battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill is fighting to remain mayor of Watford. | Every seat in all 32 London boroughs - more than 1,800 in total - is up for grabs on Thursday, 22 May. This has not happened since the day of the general election in 2010, when Labour bucked the national trend by getting 36.4% of the vote to the Conservatives 34.5%. Ed Miliband's party lost to Boris Johnson in the 2012 mayoral contest. They will be looking to avenge that and show they are on the road to Downing Street. The party is targeting Tory-controlled outer London boroughs such as Croydon and Barnet. Hammersmith and Fulham - a flagship Tory council - would be the ultimate prize but David Cameron's party will be fighting hard to retain it. Mayoral elections are also taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham - all with Labour incumbents seeking their fourth consecutive term - and Tower Hamlets, where controversial independent mayor Lutfur Rahman is battling to retain power. Lib Dem Dorothy Thornhill is fighting to remain mayor of Watford. |
| England expects... | England expects... |
| There are few political earthquakes in prospect in this year's English local elections. A third of seats are up for grabs in most councils. Labour does not really need a target list for the 36 Metropolitan boroughs, which include Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester, South and West Yorkshire, Merseyside and the West Midlands as it already controls 29 of them. The last time these seats were contested Labour gained control of 17 councils and the Conservatives lost four. The party is hoping to take back Bradford after the collapse of the Respect insurgency, although the town is also a top UKIP target. | There are few political earthquakes in prospect in this year's English local elections. A third of seats are up for grabs in most councils. Labour does not really need a target list for the 36 Metropolitan boroughs, which include Tyne and Wear, Greater Manchester, South and West Yorkshire, Merseyside and the West Midlands as it already controls 29 of them. The last time these seats were contested Labour gained control of 17 councils and the Conservatives lost four. The party is hoping to take back Bradford after the collapse of the Respect insurgency, although the town is also a top UKIP target. |
| Nigel Farage's party will benefit from the coat-tail effect of its expected strong showing in the European elections in many areas, although it is unlikely to take overall control of any councils. The Conservatives tend to hold sway in the smaller district councils and unitary authorities - and there are few areas where they are under serious threat. There are three "all-out" elections in councils where boundaries have been redrawn - Milton Keynes, pictured above, which has been controlled by all three major parties in recent years, Slough, which is rock-solid Labour, and Three Rivers, where the Lib Dems are hoping to retain control. There are also local elections for 11 new councils in Northern Ireland. | Nigel Farage's party will benefit from the coat-tail effect of its expected strong showing in the European elections in many areas, although it is unlikely to take overall control of any councils. The Conservatives tend to hold sway in the smaller district councils and unitary authorities - and there are few areas where they are under serious threat. There are three "all-out" elections in councils where boundaries have been redrawn - Milton Keynes, pictured above, which has been controlled by all three major parties in recent years, Slough, which is rock-solid Labour, and Three Rivers, where the Lib Dems are hoping to retain control. There are also local elections for 11 new councils in Northern Ireland. |
| How to find out more | How to find out more |
| To find out more about these elections you can visit the Electoral Commission's About My Vote website. The European Parliament also has a handy guide to the Euro elections in the UK. The BBC has published a full list of candidates. |