Types of election

Parliamentary elections are usually held every five years.  The next Parliamentary election will take place on Thursday 4 July 2024. Electors can vote for a Member of Parliament (MP) to sit in the House of Commons in Westminster and represent their interests and concerns. MPs consider and can propose new laws as well as raising issues that matter in the House. This includes asking government ministers questions about current issues including those which affect Cheltenham.

Who am I voting for?

Cheltenham constituency is made up of 20 borough wards and has one constituency. Each constituency in the UK elects one MP. Due to boundary changes the following wards and polling districts come under Tewkesbury Constituency for Paliamentary elections;

• GC (from Hesters Way Ward)
• LD (from Pittville Ward)
• MA (from Prestbury Ward)
• MB (from Prestbury Ward)
• Springbank Ward
• Swindon Village Ward

How are the votes counted?

The first past the post voting system is used for Parliamentary (general) elections. This means the candidate with the most votes is elected; they do not need to get more than half of the votes cast.  If there is a tie then a candidate is selected by the drawing of lots (a method of selection by chance such as tossing a coin or picking a name out of a hat).