BBC News: Election 2005 Q & A The General Election

WHAT ARE WE VOTING FOR?
The general election will decide which party (or coalition of parties) forms the next government. All 646 seats in the UK Parliament's House of Commons are up for grabs.

WHEN IS THE ELECTION?
Tony Blair has announced 5 May as polling day. The prime minister could have chosen a date any time before 12 June 2006 - five years after the last poll. Votes are traditionally held on Thursday, but do not have to be. Elections cannot be held on weekends or public holidays.

HOW DOES THE VOTING SYSTEM WORK?
The UK uses a First Past the Post system. To become an MP, a candidate simply has to win more votes than any rival in their constituency, not a majority of votes cast. Critics claim this means many people's votes are "wasted" and want some kind of proportional representation, where the national share of the vote determines the number of MPs.

WHO CAN VOTE?
You must be registered to vote, be at least 18-years-old on polling day, be British or be a Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland citizen living in the UK.

More at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/basics/4351315.stm

I thought I'd post this in case non-British DUers were curious about how the British elections will work.

A friend is in Ireland and I will cast her proxy vote - which I will do by post as she is registered 500 miles away.

I'd forgotten that Commonwealth citizens can vote, I knew about the R.o.I., and that Commonwealth citizens could stand.