Have you ever been with Have you ever been with your mum or dad to go your mum or dad to go
and vote?and vote?
They might go into a school- They might go into a school- like ours and into a little booth like ours and into a little booth
like these.like these.
Inside they put a cross on a Inside they put a cross on a piece of paper to choose one piece of paper to choose one
person they want to represent person they want to represent them.them.
At the end of the day all the At the end of the day all the crosses are counted.crosses are counted.
The person with the most The person with the most crosses is elected.crosses is elected.
In our country there are two In our country there are two main kinds of election.main kinds of election.
Local and national elections.Local and national elections.
Local elections are for Local elections are for representatives on local and representatives on local and
parish councils.parish councils.
Local councils deal with Local councils deal with housing, rubbish collection, housing, rubbish collection, schools, sports centres, care schools, sports centres, care for those who need support for those who need support
and other local services.and other local services.
Local councillors can be Local councillors can be anyone over 21.anyone over 21.
They go to meetings and make They go to meetings and make decisions for those in their decisions for those in their
local community.local community.
Sometimes the people who Sometimes the people who voted for them agree with their voted for them agree with their decisions and sometimes they decisions and sometimes they
don’t.don’t.
The other kind of elections we The other kind of elections we have are national elections.have are national elections.
We elect members of We elect members of parliament (M.P.) to represent parliament (M.P.) to represent us in the government of our us in the government of our country, at least every five country, at least every five
years.years.
Your M.P. speaks for the people Your M.P. speaks for the people in your area in the House of in your area in the House of
Commons. Commons.
The national government, in The national government, in London, makes decisions on London, makes decisions on many different things that many different things that
affect your life.affect your life.
These include: hospitals, These include: hospitals, schools, the environment, schools, the environment,
relations with other countries, relations with other countries, the police and the economy.the police and the economy.
There are 646 M.P.s and they There are 646 M.P.s and they are all different!are all different!
Do you know who your M.P. Do you know who your M.P. is?is?
