Elections

The Elections Act 2022 changes the way you can vote in elections. Read about using existing photographic identification or applying for Voter ID, and changes which affect accessibility at polling stations.

See information about:

• Parliamentary or 'general' elections
• Local elections and by-elections
• Election information for candidates
• Recent election results

Parliamentary or 'general' elections

A general election is used to vote for Members of Parliament (MP) to represent York in the House of Commons, at the UK Parliament in Westminster, London. The UK is split into constituencies, and each constituency votes for an MP to represent them, using the 'first past the post' system.

There are two parliamentary constituencies for City of York Council:

• York Central
• York Outer

The last general election was held on 12 December 2019; see details of the December 2019 Parliamentary Election results.

Local elections and by-elections

Local elections are held every 4 years, and are used to elect councillors to represent each one of York's wards on the City of York Council.

The next local elections in York will be held in May 2027.

By-elections are used to elect a councillor in a single ward whenever a position becomes available - for example, when a councillor resigns or dies.

Once elected, councillors are involved with the decision-making process and setting policies that impact on their ward and across York; find out more about council committees.

Also see

• Local councillors and other elected representatives
• Community governance review
• Polling district, place and station review
• Local Authority Referendums Regulations 
• Elections Act 2022