General Election 2024 timetable
A general election took place on 4 July 2024. This is the timetable of events up to and after the date of the election.
Thursday 30 May - dissolution of Parliament
Dissolution is the official term for the end of a Parliament. The King dissolved Parliament by Royal Proclamation on Thursday 30 May 2024.
The proclamation also set the date for the return of Parliament after the election as 9 July 2024.
Instructions, known as writs, are issued for elections to take place in the UK's 650 constituencies.
Friday 7 June - deadline for the delivery of nomination papers
Candidates intending to stand for election as an MP needed to hand in nomination papers by 4pm.
Candidates who wanted to withdraw their nominations need to do so by 4pm.
Tuesday 18 June - voter registration deadline
To vote in the 2024 General Election you needed to be registered to vote by midnight on 18 June 2024.
Wednesday 19 June - deadline for postal vote applications
There are many ways to vote. The deadline on this date for a new postal or postal proxy vote - and any changes to existing postal votes - was 5pm.
Wednesday 26 June - deadline for Voter Authority Certificate applications and proxy vote applications
When you register to vote, you are asked whether you have photo ID or if you want to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to vote in the 2024 general election was 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
The deadline for applying for a new proxy vote (except for emergency proxies) was also 5pm.
Thursday 4 July - polling day
Polling booths were open between 7am and 10pm.
Counting of votes began when the polls closed.
Tuesday 9 July - Parliament returns for the election of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected (or re-elected) on the first day that the House meets after the General Election.
MPs and members of the House of Lords swear the oath of allegiance or make a solemn affirmation.
Wednesday 17 July - State Opening of Parliament
The State Opening marks the formal start of the parliamentary year. The King's Speech sets out the government’s proposed policies and legislation for the coming session.