.grid_9 %h1= @page_title = "How the parliament election works" %p On 6 May 2010 you can vote for your local member of parliament and help to decide who governs the UK. %p The UK is divided into 650 areas called constituencies. Each constituency elects one MP. %p The London Borough of Sutton has two constituencies: Sutton and Cheam, and Carshalton and Wallington. %p You get one vote to help choose the MP for your area from a list of candidates. %p The person with the most votes becomes the MP. %p If a political party gets 326 or more out of 650 MPs they can form a government to run the country. %p If no party gets 326 MPs the parties have to agree among themselves who will run the country. This is called a “hung parliament”. %p Elections for parliament must be held at least once every five years. The prime minister can choose to have an election earlier if they wish. = haml_partial('register-to-vote')