Use this page to find out about why we have this type of election, and how it works. Select a topic below to read more.
We have general elections to choose Members of Parliament (MPs). One MP is elected for each constituency, and it's their job to represent their electorate in the House of Commons. Of the 650 MPs in Parliament, only 1-2% are independent, while the rest belong to a political party. MPs generally divide their time between work in Parliament, when it is in session, and local surgeries, meetings and events at other times, as well as work supporting campaigns for their political party.
The Prime Minister may change following a general election, but you cannot vote directly for them (unless they are your local MP). You can only vote for the candidates standing in your local constituency.
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The maximum interval between general elections is five years, although it's quite common to have a shorter period. The most recent general elections in the UK have been in 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019. The next election will happen by 28 January 2025, at the latest.
Learn more about how general elections work
You have a single vote for a single candidate in general elections. The result is decided using a 'First-Past-The-Post' voting system: all of the votes are counted, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election.
There are currently two Parliamentary constituencies in our area: Bath, and North East Somerset.
- Bath constituency: Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrats (first elected in 2017)
- North East Somerset constituency: Jacob Rees-Mogg, Conservative Party (first elected in 2010)
Learn more about your local constituency
The tables below show the election outcome, with the elected candidate highlighted. Further details include the full report of results, including ballot papers that were rejected, and the formal announcement of the winner.
| Name of candidate | Description | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
BELL, William Russell Henry |
Independent | 341 |
|
DAVIES, Michael Terence Paul |
Labour Party | 6,639 |
|
HOBHOUSE, Wera Benedicta |
Liberal Democrats | 28,419 |
|
OGUNNUSI, Adefolajimi |
Brexit Party | 642 |
|
TALL, Annabel Emma Elizabeth |
Conservative Party | 16,097 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES | 52,138 |
Further details of Bath constituency vote
The total number of ballot papers at the conclusion of the count is: 52,330.
The turnout in this constituency is: 77.18%.
The number of ballot papers rejected at the count is as follows:
| Rejection reason | Number of rejected ballot papers |
|---|---|
|
(1) want of an official mark |
0 |
|
(2) voting for more than one candidate |
16 |
|
(3) writing or mark by which the voter could be identified |
2 |
|
(4) unmarked or void for uncertainty |
174 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF REJECTED BALLOT PAPERS | 192 |
Wera Benedicta Hobhouse is therefore duly elected as member of parliament for the Bath constituency.
| Name of candidate | Description | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
COATES, Nicholas Andrew |
Liberal Democrats | 12,422 |
|
HUBAND, Mark Christopher |
Labour Party | 13,631 |
|
HUGHES, Shaun |
Independent | 472 |
|
REES-MOGG, Jacob William |
Conservative Party | 28,360 |
|
WHITFIELD, Fay Emily Veare |
Green Party | 1,423 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES | 56,308 |
Further details of North East Somerset constituency vote
The total number of ballot papers at the conclusion of the count is: 56,477.
The turnout in this constituency is: 76.64%.
The number of ballot papers rejected at the count is as follows:
| Rejection reason | Number of rejected ballot papers |
|---|---|
|
(1) want of an official mark |
0 |
|
(2) voting for more than one candidate |
14 |
|
(3) writing or mark by which the voter could be identified |
0 |
|
(4) unmarked or void for uncertainty |
155 |
| TOTAL NUMBER OF REJECTED BALLOT PAPERS | 169 |
Jacob William Rees-Mogg is therefore duly elected as member of parliament for the North East Somerset constituency.