Election 2015: Glossary of election terms

Politics is awash with terms and phrases that are beloved of commentators and politicians alike. Here is a guide to some of the key terms.

Absentee ballot

A vote cast by someone who cannot reach a polling station. Can be postal or by proxy (see below).

Agent

A person who represents candidates in their dealings with the electoral authorities and runs their campaigns.

Ballot

Another term for vote.

Ballot box

Sealed box with a slit in the lid, into which voters place their ballot papers.

Ballot paper

Paper containing a list of all candidates standing in a constituency. Voters mark their choice with a cross.

Battlebus

A vehicle used by a party to transport its leader or other senior figures around the country to rallies or to meet the people.

Budget

The government's tax and spending plans, outlined once a year by the chancellor of the exchequer.

By-election

An election held between general elections, usually because the sitting MP has died or resigned.

Cabinet

The group of senior ministers at the head of the government.

Candidate

Someone putting themselves up for election. Once Parliament has been dissolved, there are no MPs, only candidates.

Canvassing

During a campaign, active supporters of a party ask voters who they will vote for and try to drum up support for their own candidates.

Coalition

When two or more parties govern together, when neither has an overall majority. After the 2010 election, the Conservatives and Lib Dems formed a coalition, which lasted for five years.

Confidence and supply

A smaller party supports a larger party in key Commons votes - specifically confidence votes and finance/supply bills - to keep it in power.

Constituency

The geographical unit which elects a single MP. There are 650 in the UK.

Deposit

A sum of £500 paid by candidates or their parties to be allowed to stand. It is returned if the candidate wins 5% or more of the votes cast.

Devolution

The delegation of powers to other parliamentary bodies within the UK, specifically the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies.

Dissolution of Parliament

The act of ending a Parliament.

English votes for English laws

The argument that only MPs representing English constituencies should decide on laws which only effect England - normally in areas which are devolved to administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, such as health, education and transport.

Election expenses

Candidates are only allowed to spend a limited amount of money on their individual campaign. Accounts must be submitted after the poll proving they did not exceed this limit.

Electoral register

A list of all those in a constituency entitled to vote. Also known as electoral roll.

Exit poll

A poll carried out by researchers asking people how they have voted just after they have left the polling station on election day.

First past the post

Term used to describe the UK's parliamentary election system. It means a candidate only needs to win the most votes in their constituency to win the seat.

Franchise

The right to vote. Now available to those over 18 and on the electoral register.

General election

Election at which all seats in the House of Commons are contested.

Hung parliament

If after an election no party has an overall majority, then parliament is said to be "hung". The main parties will then try to form a coalition with one or more of the minor parties. Opinion polls have suggested that a hung parliament is a strong possibility after the 2015 general election.

Landslide

The name given to an election which one party wins by a very large margin. Famous landslides in UK elections include Labour's victory in 1945, the Conservative win in 1983 and the election which brought Tony Blair to power in 1997.

Majority government

When one party wins more than half of the seats in the Commons, they can rule alone in a majority government

Manifesto

A public declaration of a party's ideas and policies, usually printed during the campaign. Once in power, a government is often judged by how many of its manifesto promises it manages to deliver.

Marginal constituencies

Seats where the gap between the two or more leading parties is relatively small. Often regarded as less than a 10% margin or requiring a swing (see below) of 5% or less, though very dependent on prevailing political conditions.

Minority government

A government formed by a party which does not have an absolute majority in the House of Commons. Harold Wilson led a Labour minority government between February and October 1974.

MP (Member of Parliament)

Strictly this includes members of the House of Lords, but in practice means only members of the House of Commons. When an election is called Parliament is dissolved and there are no more MPs until it assembles again.

Nomination papers

A candidate must be nominated on these documents by 10 voters living in the constituency.

Number 10

The official residence in Downing Street of the British prime minister since the 18th Century. Number 10 and Downing Street both serve as terms to describe the prime minister and his or her inner circle, as in "Number 10 has said that".

Opinion poll

A survey asking people's opinion on one or more issues. In an election campaign, the key question is usually about which party people will vote for.

Opposition

The largest party not in government is known as the official opposition. It receives extra parliamentary funding in recognition of its status.

Party Election Broadcast (PEB)

Broadcasts made by the parties and transmitted on TV or radio. By agreement with the broadcasters, each party is allowed a certain number according to its election strength and number of candidates fielded.

Personation

The offence of impersonating someone else in order to use their vote.

Poll

Another term for vote or election.

Polling clerk

The person in the polling station who checks the electoral register to verify that the voter is eligible to cast their vote and at that particular polling station.

Polling day

Election day.

Polling station

Place where people go to cast their votes.

Postal vote

People unable to get to a polling station are allowed to vote by post if they apply in advance.

Proportional representation (PR)

Systems of voting which aim to give parties the representation in a parliament justified by their level of support among the electorate. PR is not used in Westminster elections.

Prorogation

The act of ending a session of Parliament. Performed when an election is called.

Presiding officer

The person responsible for ensuring the conduct of the ballot in polling stations. They have to ensure that ballot boxes are kept secure and are responsible for transferring them safely to the count.

Proxy vote

People unable to get to a polling station are allowed to appoint someone to vote on their behalf if they apply in advance. They are also allowed a postal vote.

Psephology

The study of voting and voting patterns.

Queen's Speech The government's legislative programme for the coming session of Parliament. Delivered by the Queen, but written by the government.

Recount

If a result is close, any candidate may ask for a recount. The process can be repeated several times if necessary until the candidates are satisfied. The returning officer has the final say on whether a recount takes place.

Referendum

A binding vote of the whole country on a single issue.

Returning officer

The official in charge of elections in each of the constituencies.

Safe seat

A constituency in which the holding party has a big lead to defend. Often regarded as being a margin of 15-20% or more.

Soapbox

Famously used by former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major in 1992 to address crowds of voters as he travelled around the country.

Speaker

An MP elected by other members of the Commons to chair debates and deal with the running of the Commons. By tradition, an MP who is Speaker is not opposed by any of the main parties at elections.

Spin

The attempt to place a favourable interpretation on an event so that people or the media will interpret it in that way. Those performing this act are known as spin doctors.

Spoiled ballots

Ballot papers which have been filled in incorrectly. The returning officer has the final say over whether any paper not marked with a single cross is valid.

Swing

The transfer of votes from one party to another. The actual transfer is complicated, so usually taken to mean between the top two parties in any seat or area.

Tactical voting

This is when people vote not for the party they really support, but for another party in order to keep out a more disliked rival.

Target seats

In theory, any seat that a party contests and held by a rival is one of its targets. In practice, a target seat is one that a party believes it can win and puts a lot of effort into doing so.

Tellers

Representatives of parties who wait outside polling stations and ask people for their number on the electoral roll. This is to help the parties ensure all their supporters have voted. Tellers have no official status and no-one is obliged to give them any information.

Turnout

The number or percentage of people eligible to vote in a constituency who actually "turn out" to the polling station to do so (or send in their postal vote).

Vote-by-vote arrangement

When a minority government negotiates support for its policies by seeking the backing of other parties, who would vote for it in the House of Commons.

West Lothian Question

Shorthand term coined to describe a question posed by Tam Dalyell, once Labour MP for West Lothian. Mr Dalyell asks how it is right that post-devolution, Scottish MPs can vote at Westminster on matters solely to do with England, while English MPs do not have the same influence on equivalent issues in Scotland, as they have been devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

Westminster

A term used to describe the hothouse of politics centred on the Palace of Westminster and its surroundings (see Whitehall).

Whitehall

A street in central London which is home to several government ministries. Synonymous with the workings of government.

Writs of election

Once Parliament has been dissolved, a writ of election is issued for each constituency formally announcing the poll.