But on 19 April, Theresa May cut our thinking time short - bringing polling day forward three years and giving us just eight weeks to make up our minds. For some of us, choosing which box to cross on the ballot paper is straightforward.
A sizeable, but shrinking, proportion of voters usually vote the same way election after election. This deep emotional commitment used to be strongly related to social class. In , more than six out of 10 voters were either middle-class Tories or working-class Labour supporters.
But institutions such as churches, trade unions and social clubs no longer play such a central role in many people's lives and what might have been called traditional working-class jobs have declined.
Class is now a very poor predictor of how people will vote. From the s Labour ceased to get most of its support from working-class voters , and in April a YouGov poll suggested support for the Tories had little to do with background. As a result, we have become much more individualistic in our political beliefs and are less likely to be "party people". The Conservative and Labour parties still rely on loyalists to make up their core vote, but this dependable base has ebbed away.
Given that more of us are changing our minds, what are the main influences? The way the media frames the election and the twists and turns of the campaign plays a part, but other factors also shape our decision. For example, the way that we respond to the promises we hear political parties make is influenced by our own beliefs and values.
In the US, these traits are associated with liberalism and conservatism respectively - typically left and right in the UK. There is also a significant division among British voters between those who consider themselves socially liberal - often the young, university educated and those in professional jobs - and those who express more authoritarian views.
The role that social values play was brought into sharp relief by analysis of the Brexit vote. Some research suggests that support for "authoritarian" policies such as bringing back the death penalty is much more closely associated with being pro-Brexit than with Remain. But although choosing the party that most closely reflects our values is important, whether or not we believe it can actually deliver on key issues might come first.
The largest increase from was in Foyle, where turnout increased by The highest level of rejected ballots was in Northern Ireland 0. At a constituency level, 81 constituencies rejected 0. As was the case in , the highest rejection rate was seen in the seat of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Buckingham, where 3. Across the UK, the majority of rejected ballots Almost a quarter The total number of postal votes issued for the general election was 8.
This compares with At a constituency level, postal voters ranged from 1. As was the case in , the biggest increase from the previous election was in Scotland, where postal voting increased by 1.
Postal voting remains much less common in Northern Ireland 1. Postal votes accounted for These identifiers are then matched against those provided at the time of application. If the signature or date of birth is missing or does not match, the postal vote is rejected and is not included at the count. Since , Electoral Registration Officers EROs have been required to notify electors if their postal vote has been rejected and give the reason s for rejection.
They can also request the elector to provide an up-to-date signature. The rate of rejection of postal votes has decreased to 2. This trend was consistent across the UK, ranging from a decrease of 0. This trend mirrors decreases across local elections in and suggests that the new policy may be having a positive impact. Almost half In a third of cases It is worth nothing that these percentages represent very small numbers of postal votes.
For example, although The vast majority of postal voters did correctly file their returns. A total of , electors appointed a proxy 0. This compares with 0. The number of emergency proxies issued across Great Britain was 14, This is considerably higher than in wheA concession granted under the terms of the Electoral Administration Act was that postal electors in Great Britain who either had a disability, or were illiterate, or were unable to furnish a consistent signature could apply for a waiver to use their date of birth as their sole identifier.
In , 51, waivers were granted, representing 0. This is consistent with At a constituency level, the proportion of waivers granted ranged 0. There remain inconsistencies in the ways in which local authorities record and report information. We continue to notice differences in the coding of information by different electoral management software. Inconsistencies relating to the reasons for and total number of postal vote rejections on the Form K appear to result from the potential for differences in interpretation and treatment.
For example, in the treatment of the numbers of covering envelopes and ballot papers returned, covering envelopes may be sent in without the A envelope or postal voting statement enclosed, while the missing document may or may not be sent in a separate covering envelope later, or multiple ballots may be returned in one envelope.
When local authorities are contacted about such anomalies they are often unable to provide revised figures or clarify why the data were coded in that way. In practice, we use a calculation of field B6 minus field C18 as a surrogate for the total number of postal votes rejected regardless of whether or not it is the same as recorded in field C Maintain the triple lock of increasing the state pension each year by the highest of earnings growth, price growth or 2.
Protect the triple lock on pensions, protect the winter fuel allowance and support fair pensions for womenSupport repeal of Trade Union Act and ban zero-hour contracts. Tackling austerity and securing investment in public services is a priority for the SNP. Demand that Wales has the power to set its own rates of tax including corporation tax and VAT.
Ukip burnishes its everyman credentials with tax cuts for low and middle earners, plus support for small businesses. In another challenge to Labour, the Greens have rich individuals and businesses funding a higher proportion of public spending. Meet commitment to deliver 1m homes by the end of and deliver , more by the end of Build new fixed-term social houses which will be sold privately after years with automatic right to buy for tenants. The pledge to build more homes is made despite slow progress towards the previous aim and little detail about how it will be achieved.
Help-to-buy funding until for first-time buyers. Controls on rent rises for private renters. Suspend the right to buy until councils can prove they have a plan to replace homes. Scrap the bedroom tax and reverse decision to abolish housing benefit for year olds. Increase housebuilding to , a year, with 30, rent-to-own homes a year by Manifesto promises a number of housing reforms to help first-time buyers, including rent to buy, which will help those looking to get on the housing ladder.
Build 10, new affordable homes funded by new multi-million pound investment programme. There is little in the manifesto about housing, a policy area in the province of the Welsh government and Welsh assembly, where a bill to abolish the right-to-buy scheme is currently underway.
Allow local authorities in seaside towns to buy up and renovate poor housing stock or empty commercial properties. FBM homes appeared in a February white paper on housing but not the Tory manifesto. Ukip claims a hitherto niche idea can solve the housing crisis. The Greens want to help those struggling in the current market by building more homes to buy and rent, but also by clipping the wings of landlords.
From air pollution to climate change, how will the parties tackle green issues? Develop the shale industry, legislate to change planning law for fracking applications, and set up a shale environmental regulator, with more tax revenues going to communities that host extraction sites.
There is only a brief mention of air pollution and the Conservatives are the only main party to support fracking, controversial among environmentalists. Ensure UK meets its climate change targets and transitions to a low-carbon economy. Ban fracking, stay committed to renewable energy projects, support further nuclear projects, and introduce a new Clean Air Act to deal with illegal air quality.
Ensure UK meets its climate commitments and pass five green laws covering transport, carbon emissions, nature, green buildings and waste. Oppose fracking, ensure 4m properties receive insulation retrofits by , and prevent 40, deaths a year with an air quality plan. Party maintains green credentials by devoting more space in manifesto than Labour, with pledges that include opposition to Heathrow expansion and a diesel scrappage scheme.
Work to ensure UK government takes action on the taxation of late life oil and gas assets. Transfer responsibility over Welsh energy generation and natural resources to the national assembly. Create a Welsh energy company. Introduce a new climate change act. Adopt greenhouse gas and pollution targets for and PC believes Wales should manage its own resources and it pledges to build a cleaner environment. Repeal the Climate Change Act and support energy market based on fossil fuels, nuclear and some renewables.
Ukip's manifesto is sceptical of renewable energy and omits any mention of pollution. Replace fracking, coal power stations, subsidies to fossil fuels and nuclear with renewable energy. Support the UN and Nato, focusing on conflict prevention and only resorting to military intervention as a last resort. Control arms exports to countries listed as human rights priority countries. Suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Manifesto makes a point of the UK being able to defend itself, support allies and engage in humanitarian intervention, while leading in international nuclear disarmament efforts.
Press for investment in conventional defence including promise to build new Type Frigates in Scotland. Immediate ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia pending investigation of conflict in Yemen. Press UK government to take action to bring about a political resolution to end the conflict in Syria. SNP supports diplomatic resolutions and scrapping of Trident would ensure more money for public services. Scrap Trident and resist attempts to relocate it to Wales, instead investing in home-based troops and strengthening conventional forces.
Ukip argues that free trade agreements with developing countries would eliminate the need for foreign aid.
The Green manifesto has no time for military matters. There is no mention of the defence budget and they plan to make a major saving on Trident. This guide provides a summary of key points from the general election manifestos of UK mainland parties with seats in Westminster prior to the dissolution of parliament.
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