For those of us that can’t get enough of election drama, it’s a bit sad to see Stanford polling season come to a close (cast those ballots tomorrow!). But not to worry — it’s vote o’clock somewhere, and that hour is fast approaching in the United Kingdom.
On 6 May, citizens of the UK will flock to the polls, mark their choice for their local Member of Parliament, fold the paper in half, and place it in the ballot box. After the paper ballots of the 650 constituencies are counted (up from 646 in 2005), whichever party has a majority — or 326 members elected — will call its leader the Prime Minister.
Next PM: Cameron, Brown, or Clegg? (photo: BBC)
There’s substantial buzz about this election because it promises to be the closest election since 1992, when Conservatives surprisingly edged out Labour even after Margaret Thatcher’s mid-government resignation in 1990. 1997 was a Labour landslide, and for the 13 years since, Labour has remained in power. This election promises a true contest, with several news sources predicting that a hung Parliament — in which no one party has a majority — may result, forcing a coalition or even another election within a short stretch of time.
There’s plenty of reason to get excited — the heat of a close election, three excellent candidates from the leading three parties (Gordon Brown, Labour (incumbent); David Cameron, Conservative; Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrats), and the first ever televised debates for potential Prime Ministers! Upcoming election highlights:
Monday 12 April: Parliament is dissolved. Any open legislation falls. The next Parliament can choose to re-introduce it — or not.
Thursday 15 April: First prime ministerial debate will be aired on ITV, 8:30 PM BST (or 12:30 PM PDT). Focus will be on domestic affairs.
Thursday 22 April: Second prime ministerial debate will be aired on Sky, 8:00 PM BST (or 12:00 PM PDT). Focus will be on foreign affairs. This debate will be moderated by Adam Boulton — author of Tony’s Ten Years, a book students who have taken PS 111D will have read.
Thursday 29 April: Third prime ministerial debate will be aired on the BBC, 8:30 PM BST (or 12:30 PM PDT). Focus will be on the economy.
Thursday 6 May: Election Day!
Updates on campaign news, debate recaps, party platforms and election antics to follow. Questions? Leave a comment and I’ll hunt down an answer.