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Guide to the 2014 European and local elections Guide to the 2014 European and local elections
(1 day later)
What's happening on Thursday?What's happening on Thursday?
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).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 received polling cards through the post. To be eligible to vote, you had to be on the electoral register 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 received polling cards through the post. To be eligible to vote, you had to be on the electoral register 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 Thursday. 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. The deadline has passed for applying for a postal vote - if you did apply for one you can drop it off at the polling station. If you have a specific, long-term reason that you can't vote in person, such as a disability or being overseas, you can apply to allow someone to vote for you on the Electoral Commission website. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 5pm on polling day. Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm.You can go to your nearest polling station on Thursday. 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. The deadline has passed for applying for a postal vote - if you did apply for one you can drop it off at the polling station. If you have a specific, long-term reason that you can't vote in person, such as a disability or being overseas, you can apply to allow someone to vote for you on the Electoral Commission website. If you are suddenly incapacitated or taken ill, you can apply to vote by proxy for medical reasons up until 5pm on polling day. Polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm.
'Selfie' warning'Selfie' warning
The Electoral Commission is worried the current craze for smart phone self-portraits, as demonstrated above by the prime minister, will threaten the secrecy of the ballot. They have issued guidelines to staff at polling stations advising them to discourage the taking of "selfies", or any other kind of photograph in the polling station. There may be notices on the wall warning people about it. Taking a photograph in a polling station is not a criminal offence in itself, but sharing of information that appears on a ballot paper, even before it has been filled in, could represent a breach of Section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act 1983, leading to a fine of up to £5,000, or a six months jail sentence. It all depends on whether the photograph was shared with others and what is in it - but the Electoral Commission is not taking any chances. "Given the risk that someone taking a photo inside a polling station may be in breach of the law, whether intentionally or not, our advice is that you should not allow photos to be taken inside polling stations," says the guidance to staff. Tweeting pictures of a postal ballot is also discouraged.The Electoral Commission is worried the current craze for smart phone self-portraits, as demonstrated above by the prime minister, will threaten the secrecy of the ballot. They have issued guidelines to staff at polling stations advising them to discourage the taking of "selfies", or any other kind of photograph in the polling station. There may be notices on the wall warning people about it. Taking a photograph in a polling station is not a criminal offence in itself, but sharing of information that appears on a ballot paper, even before it has been filled in, could represent a breach of Section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act 1983, leading to a fine of up to £5,000, or a six months jail sentence. It all depends on whether the photograph was shared with others and what is in it - but the Electoral Commission is not taking any chances. "Given the risk that someone taking a photo inside a polling station may be in breach of the law, whether intentionally or not, our advice is that you should not allow photos to be taken inside polling stations," says the guidance to staff. Tweeting pictures of a postal ballot is also discouraged.
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?
It is often ignored by the British media, but the European Parliament has a growing influence over our daily lives. It can not originate laws just revise or block legislation from the unelected European Commission, but it has more power than it used to, particularly in areas like consumer protection, the environment - such as the genetically modified crops German Greens are protesting against in the above picture. 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.It is often ignored by the British media, but the European Parliament has a growing influence over our daily lives. It can not originate laws just revise or block legislation from the unelected European Commission, but it has more power than it used to, particularly in areas like consumer protection, the environment - such as the genetically modified crops German Greens are protesting against in the above picture. 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. The way seats are allocated within each European constituency uses the D'hondt system., which is a form of proportional representation.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. The way seats are allocated within each European constituency uses the D'hondt system., which is a form of proportional representation.
What's at stake for the British parties? What happened last time?
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, although the Conservatives topped one recent poll and cannot be ruled out. With a year to go before a general election, Labour 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 seems 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 looks set to gain at the expense of the Lib Dems and polls suggest it could more than double its current tally of two British MEPs. 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 last European elections were in 2009. The Conservatives got the biggest UK share of the vote, 27.7%, UKIP got 16.5%, Labour got 15.7%, the Lib Dems 13.7%, the Green Party 8.6% and the BNP 6.2%.
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. In 2009 in Scotland the SNP got 29.1% of votes, Labour 20.8%, Conservatives 16.8%, Liberal Democrats 11.5%, Greens 7.2% and UKIP 5.2%. 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. 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. But 30 parties in all are contesting seats across the UK.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. But 30 parties in all are contesting seats across the UK.
A big day in LondonA 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 six outer London boroughs, mostly under Tory control. Inner London 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. Mayoral elections are also taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford.
England expects...England expects...
There are few political earthquakes in prospect elsewhere 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. Elsewhere in this year's English local elections a third of seats are up for grabs in most councils.
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 moreHow 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.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.