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EU election 2014: Seven things you should know

7 things you should know about the 2014 EU Elections
Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) poses as he leaves after casting his vote for the European Parliament(Picture: AP Photo/Sang Tan)


1) When do we get the EU election results?


2)When do polling stations close?

Polling stations opened at 7am and will close at 10pm.

3) How does your vote work?

The voting system used in the UK (with the exception of Northern Ireland) for European elections is a regional closed party list proportional representation system.

Ignoring that mouthful, it simply means you vote for a party, not a candidate, in one of 12 electoral regions.

Each party gets a proportional amount of the seats available based on the amount of votes they receive.

Northern Ireland, one of the 12 regions, uses the slightly more complicated single transferable vote system (STV).

This system demands you list the parties in preference and your vote is allocated to your top choice still in the running after less successful parties are eliminated as the count comes in.

Remember, any questions just ask polling station officers.

4) How many people vote in EU elections?

At the last EU Elections in 2009, just over 15 million people voted making up 34% of the Electorate.

In comparison, the 2010 general election had a turnout of 65% of the electorate.

On an aside, the electorate are British citizens who are registered to vote.

5) Going into this election, which five political parties have the most MEPs?

1.Conservatives: 25

2.UKIP: 13 seats

3.Labour: 13 seats

4.Liberal Democrats: 11 seats

5.Green/BNP/SNP: 2 seats

6) How can I find out about the different candidates in my region?

Your local council website will have information on which region you are voting in and who is standing in it.

For more information including links to party websites go to the European parliament website here

Information for each candidate will also be available at your local polling station.

7) How MEP seats are up for grabs?

73 seats, one up from 2009 after an extra MEP seat has been added to the West Midlands region.



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