Almost any British, qualifying Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland citizen aged 18 or over and resident in the UK has the right to vote in general elections. To stand as a candidate at a general election you must be aged 18 or over, a British, qualifying Commonwealth or Republic of Ireland citizen, and not legally disqualified — for example by being a serving member of the police, civil service or armed forces, by being bankrupt, or by serving a prison sentence of more than a year.
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Candidates must pay a £500 deposit when they put themselves forward, refunded if they win at least 5% of the vote. Most candidates also stand under the banner of a registered political party.
You may be asked the deposit needed to stand for Parliament (£500), the minimum age to stand (18), or who is disqualified from being an MP.
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