Elections and voting

Details on registering to vote can be found on the register to vote page.

Details about local elections can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

What are elections?

Elections are the democratic process where we elect candidates to represent our interests either locally or nationally. The candidate who receives the majority of the votes cast is declared elected.

There are three types of election that take place in Plymouth:

Local Government (Plymouth City Council) elections

Local Government (Plymouth City Council) elections take place every year except in years when there are county council elections in the rest of England. There will therefore be elections in 2012, 2014, and 2015. No elections are scheduled for 2013. The Councillors are elected for four-year terms by thirds; that is, at each election, a third of the councillors are elected.

The last Plymouth City Council elections took take place on Thursday 3 May 2012.

Parliamentary (General) elections

Parliamentary (General) elections take place every five years as a government may only serve a maximum of five years. They may however call a General election at any time during their term of office.

The last Parliamentary (General) elections were held on Thursday 6 May 2010.

European Parliamentary elections

European Parliamentary elections take place every five years. Members of the European Parliament serve a fixed term of five years. The next European Parliamentary elections will take place in June 2014.

The last European Parliamentary elections were held in June 2009.