%nav %a{ :href => '/guides'} « Guides %h1= @page_title = "How parliamentary elections work" %p In parliament elections you can vote for your local member of parliament (MP) and help to decide who governs the UK. %p The UK is divided into 650 areas called constituencies. Each constituency elects one MP. %p There are two constituencies in Sutton borough: = succeed ", and " do %a{ :href => "/bodies/uk-parliament/constituencies/sutton-and-cheam" } Sutton and Cheam = succeed "." do %a{ :href => "/bodies/uk-parliament/constituencies/carshalton-and-wallington" } 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.