What is a snap election?

A snap election is a general election called earlier than expected. Usually the Prime Minister thinks the timing will help their party, or Parliament is deadlocked. In the UK the Prime Minister can ask the King to dissolve Parliament at any time, within a five-year limit.

UK Parliaments last a maximum of five years from when they first meet. Within that limit, the Prime Minister chooses the date by asking the monarch to dissolve Parliament. Polling day then follows 25 working days later. This power was restored by the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Act 2022. The current Parliament first met on 9 July 2024, so it will dissolve automatically by July 2029 if no election is called earlier.

Between 2011 and 2022 the Fixed-term Parliaments Act made snap elections harder. Early elections needed a two-thirds vote of MPs or a special law. Even so, two were held: in June 2017, when MPs voted for one, and in December 2019, through a one-off Act. The 2017 vote passed by 522 to 13, well above the two-thirds needed.

Snap elections can backfire. The 2017 election was called to increase the government's majority but ended in a hung parliament. Leaders often call early elections when they lead in the polls, need a fresh mandate, or cannot get key laws through Parliament. The current Parliament must be dissolved by July 2029.