In Great Britain, elections occur every 4-5 years depending on the type of election. General elections are held every five years, while special elections earlier than the predetermined span is allowed in situations such as a change in the leader of a political party. The frequent elections can be a burden on the electorate but are all part of the country’s unwritten constitution and centuries-long political tradition.
In the past, people in power in Britain have sometimes dissolved the existing Parliament and called an early election to gain another 5 years unopposed. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister must convince a supermajority of two-thirds of the House of Commons that an early election is the best course of action.
The recent British Election Study has shown that referendum policies, political stands and overall national sentiment contribute to an increased voter turnout. Commonly, voters take part in local council, special and general elections by electing a Member of Parliament (MP) to represent their constituency in the House of Commons. With a majority or plurality of MPs from the same political party, a government is formed and their leader is effectively the Prime Minister.
According to Professor Mitchell of Oxford University, “The frequency of elections in Great Britain serves as a reminder of the importance of democracy and helps build a sense of national identity. The cycle of elections keeps the people involved in their nation’s politics and the higher level of engagement often results in better decision-making”.
Over the past few general elections, the majority of British voters have opted to remain with the established parties. The 2017 general election saw a 2.4% surge in the number of people registering to vote compared to the previous general election in 2015. This illustrates the public’s urge to exercise their right to vote and bring about the change they aspire to see.
Additionally, voter engagement in general elections is fostered through relative ease of the voting process and a range of public services offered in the related period, ranging from information campaigns to polling station support.
Engage with Political Parties
Citizens in Great Britain have the power to engage directly with political parties they wish to support. This is because of how much influence a vote can have, making its importance quite clear. They can donate to the party funds or join as members that can help raise funds while also encouraging healthy debates among the members of the party. By keeping up with the issues the parties are addressing and the changes they bring by becoming elected, people become well-informed about the functioning of the government and take more interest in the elections.
Political columnist Mona Patel, comments, “Active engagement with political parties can take the interest of citizens to another level. With the right information, citizens can begin to hold the parties accountable for their actions which in turn encourages a sense of involvement.”
However, some criticize the frequency of elections in Britain, claiming it stifles creativity and wastes time and money. On the other hand, it could be argued that the current frequency is necessary to ensure the wishes of the electorate are taken into consideration while forming policies.
Electoral System
The UK currently uses the first-past-the-post electoral system which allows a particular party to acquire a majority of seats in the Parliament with just 35 – 40% of the total vote. When a government is formed with a majority of votes, they have a mandate to implement their plans forming the basis of most subsequent decisions they make. Any changes from opposition parties can only be brought in if the government falls or faces a no-confidence vote.
Under an alternative system of proportional representation (PR), the number of votes cast in favor of a party is reflected in the number of seats they gain in the House of Commons. However, supporters of First-past-the-post favor it due to its simplicity and tradition. As of 2017, only three of the major political groups- Liberal Democrats, Greens and Plaid Cymru- have advocated for a shift towards PR in Britain.
Political commentator Jenny Daniels tells us, “The UK has always had a strong sense of identity due to its long-standing tradition and political history. One of the most important aspects of this identity is the tradition of having elections. With PR gaining more support, we could witness a major shift in how we view and experience our elections”.
Dilemma of Early Elections
In the current system, although the Parliament may dissolve itself to call a special election ahead of the mandated election cycles, it is a rare occurrence. However, some political analysts suggest that dissolving the Parliament and going for early elections results in a workable compromise between reflecting the will of the electorate and providing stability.
Historically, Britain has often gone for early elections in order to bring about a more complete mandate of the people when the current government has had poor poll numbers for over a year or is unable to pass legislation. Nonetheless, all such cases of early elections have been controversial.
BBC analyst Ali Moore remarks, “Early elections might give the public a better chance to make their voices heard but can create chaos as the government expenditure changes as previous purchases and plans are disrupted. All in all, government has to carefully consider the situation before opting for an early election”.
Encourage Voter Participation
Great Britain takes necessary measures to ensure everyone is informed about the elections and know about their rights. It is the responsibility of the government to educate the public and make sure any and all citizens can make an educated vote.
Professor Emma Smith of Cambridge comments, “It’s important to make sure all inquisitive and informed citizens actively vote. Accessibility to reliable information, as well as promotion of the importance of the vote should become an even bigger priority for the government in order to ensure fairness in our democratic system.”.
The government also introduces practical programs to make the voting process easier for the public that may not be able to access polling stations. People who are unable to vote in person on the day of the election, due to work or travel for example, can also access postal, proxy voting or even e-voting.
Those who turn 18 in the general election period are also allowed to use special voter registration campaigns to start taking part in the elections. Since the 2015 election, voting registration on the day of the elections has been made hereditary in most areas in the country.
Legislation for Voting Rights
Discrimination of any sorts still exists in electoral politics and an increasing urge for police reforms has arisen since 2019 due to the lack of diversity in the elections. A major part of increasing diversity among candidates is based on achieving representation from all genders, ethnic groups and social backgrounds.
Moreover, since the use of secret ballots was enforced in the 1890s, the Elections Act 1985 made it illegal to ask for any show of hands or request to disclose votes at the polling station. This ensures the secrecy of the ballot and judgement free voting.
In conclusion, the British Constitution ensures a regular cycle of elections happen in the country, to ensure the will of the citizens is taken into account. Nonetheless, there are a number of initiatives taken by the government to ensure a high voter turn-out as well as provide more options for those unable to make it to polling stations. It is of utmost importance that citizens be active in knowing about their country’s politics and keep track of the legislation and systems being introduced.
Training and Resources
The government also arranges training sessions and provides resources for first-time voters and those who are unable to make it to the polling stations so that they can unde3rstand the voting process. These resources are often localised and allow citizens to learn in more detail about the workings of the system and gather detailed information on candidates from different backgrounds.
Additionally, BBC has put together a series of live debates and questions and answer sessions between political parties for viewers to engage and find out more about each of them. Their televised debates are a great way of understanding the issues that are being discussed and played a major role in the 2017 General Election.
Online Campaigns
Online campaigns have become an effective way of reaching a wider audience than ever before. In 2017, the major political parties used social media, advertisements and online media campaigns to heavily promote their values to the public. This encouraged more people to participate in the election.
A popular figure, yet in stark contrast was the youth-led social media campaign entitled #NoVoteNoVoice. This campaign promoted the concept of exercising your right to vote in order to create a positive change and encouraged more people to join the conversation on social media.
Political Advertising
Political advertising is also widely used by candidates to boost their credibility and attract more voters. This is done by sending messages to the electorate in the form of leaflets, billboards, ads, and media spaces. The advertisements also stimulate debate for voters to better understand the stance of their candidates.
Moreover, with politics becoming more media-oriented than ever before, it is important to for voters to stay up-to-date with the current political climate and their choices from all the parties. This is to make sure there is an informed selection and voter behaviour is in line with their individual preference and current public opinion.
Alternative Forms of Political Participation
Whilst voting is literally thought to be the key to a successful democracy, voter turnout
