Question 1: What is the main purpose of voting in a democracy?

Answer: The main purpose of voting in a democracy is to allow citizens to choose their representatives and influence decisions made by the government.

Question 2: Name two qualifications a person must meet to be eligible to vote in the UK general elections.

Answer: They must be at least 18 years old and be a British citizen, a Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland residing in the UK.

Question 3: Explain what an electoral candidate is and what they do during an election campaign.

Answer: An electoral candidate is a person who stands for election to represent a political party or as an independent. During the campaign, they promote their policies and persuade voters to support them.

Question 4: Describe the process of how a person votes in a UK general election, including what they do on election day.

Answer: A person goes to their local polling station, shows proof of identity, receives a ballot paper, and then marks an ‘X’ next to the name of their preferred candidate before placing the ballot in the ballot box.

Question 5: Why is voting considered an important responsibility for citizens?

Answer: Voting is important because it helps ensure that the government represents the people’s views and makes decisions that reflect the wishes of the majority.

Question 6: List two reasons why some eligible voters might choose not to vote.

Answer: They might feel their vote does not make a difference or they may be uninformed about the candidates or issues.

Question 7: What is a political party, and why do they play a role in elections?

Answer: A political party is an organized group of people who share similar ideas about how the country should be run. They play a role in elections by proposing policies and selecting candidates to represent them.

Question 8: Draw a simple sketch of a ballot paper used in UK elections. Label the key parts such as the list of candidates and the space for marking a choice.

Answer: A rectangular paper with a list of candidate names and a box or space next to each name where voters can mark an ‘X’ to indicate their choice.

Question 9: Explain what the phrase ‘the secret ballot’ means and why it is important.

Answer: The secret ballot means that voters can cast their vote privately without others knowing how they voted, which helps prevent intimidation and ensures free choice.

Question 10: Imagine you are a voter on election day. Write a brief paragraph describing your experience from arriving at the polling station to casting your vote.

Answer: Upon arriving at the polling station, I showed my ID to the staff, received my ballot paper, went to a private booth, marked my chosen candidate with an ‘X’, folded the ballot paper, and placed it in the ballot box.