Assignment 2 (P3, M2)
The Election process
(P3)
To stand for election you must be 21 years of age at least and a British, Commonwealth or republic of Ireland citizen also need to be nominated by at least 10 of the registered electors in the constituency and if you want to stand you must receive authorisation from the party if you don’t then you will be classed as an independent and have to pay £500 which you only get back if you receive over 5 percent of the votes cast
There are many selection methods for candidates e.g. the party can draw up a list of centrally approved candidates from which the local branch can choose. Another method is the local branch of the party can interview the potential candidates to find the one they want to serve their area. If you are standing as an independent representative there are no candidate’s selection procedures.
The period length of each election is 3 weeks
The ways in which candidates try to get people to votes for them are by knocking on door, talking to people and putting up signs.
The different voting processes used in the UK are you can send in your choose by post or going to a polling station and putting an X on a ballot paper
The voting system used in the UK is first past the post (FPTP). This system is very-clear-cut and well-defined; the candidate with highest number of votes in the constituency wins
(M2)
Comparison - General and Local Elections
General Elections
Local Elections
Area - country as a whole
Local councillor serves on county, district or parish council
Responsibilities - a member of parliament we elected to represent the public’s interests concerns in the house of commons.
Responsibilities – A councillor is elected to represent the people and their views in their area.
Media coverage – national news, includes TV prime ministerial debates
Coverage is more limited – usually restricted to local newspaper or local TV stations
Politics play a major role
Politics may be less important
Candidates – see