Facilitators' Answers —
English
 
Subscribe to ACE Newsletter
These topic pages provide a quick overview and easy access to all content that can be found on ACE for any give topic of interest - weather encyclopaedia files, electoral materials, comparative data, consolidated replies, case studies, or other.

ELECTORAL FRAMEWORK

Legal Framework Boundary Delimitation Electoral Systems

ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION

Gender and Elections Parties and Candidates Disability and Elections Media and Elections Civic and Voter Education Direct Democracy

ELECTORAL MANAGEMENT

Electoral Management Cost of Elections

ELECTORAL INTEGRITY

Electoral Integrity Campaign Finance Measuring Electoral Quality Election Observation Electoral Assistance

ELECTORAL OPERATIONS

Voter Registration Voting Operations Voter Identification Results Management Out of Country Voting Elections and Technology Elections and Security
Countries
Encyclopaedia Electoral Materials Comparative Data Election Calendar Observation Portal BRIDGE Extended Learning Latest Updates
Ask the Experts Consolidated Replies Find An Expert Access ACE Practitioners' Workspace
About ACE The History of ACE Contact ACE ACE Partners Practitioners' Network FAQ
Document Actions

Boundary Delimitation

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies
Question:Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: The UK is currently divided into 650 parliamentary constituencies, each of which is represented by one MP in the House of Commons. There are currently 543 constituencies in England, 57 in Scotland, 32 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland. The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020 amended the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 and changed the number of seats from 600 to 650.
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, Schedule 2: Section 1, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/schedule/2 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/25/data.pdf Parliamentary Constituencies Act 2020, Section 5, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2020/25/section/5/enacted
Verified: 2025/06/12
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries
Question:On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s): a. "Equality" of population
b. Respecting natural barriers
d. Conformity with local jurisdiction boundaries
e. Geographic size of district
f. Communities of interest/cultural concerns
g. Other
Comments: A Boundary Commission may take into account, if and to such extent as they think fit: (a)special geographical considerations, including in particular the size, shape and accessibility of a constituency; (b)local government boundaries which exist, or are prospective, on the review date; (c)boundaries of existing constituencies; (d)any local ties that would be broken by changes in constituencies; (e)the inconveniences attendant on such changes.
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986, Schedule 2: Section 5(1), https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/schedule/2#commentary-key-8a8f16ee5d11430ea3a1714ea00d466a
Verified: 2025/06/12
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries
Question:The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s): a. Legislature (1st chamber)
b. Legislature (2nd chamber)
d. Boundary Commission
Comments: Recommendations and proposals are suggested by Boundary Commission reports, and are then submitted, by the Secretary of State, for approval by Parliament (i.e. the House of Commons and the House of Lords).
Source: Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (c.56), Art. 3, 4, https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/56/contents
Verified: 2025/06/12
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
The data on this page is continuously updated. Additional, but potentially outdated material is available here.