General Election 2019: Key dates you need to note

And with the big day less than two weeks before Christmas, cutting into Christmas shopping time, concerts and all those things we tend to like to do, here's some key dates to put in your diary so you're prepared.

The Electoral Commission have warned however that the timetable may change in the event of days being appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning.

What happens first?

Well, Parliament must be dissolved 25 working days before an election, which triggers the official start of the campaign.

So, if the election takes place on December 12, MPs will have their last day in the Commons on Tuesday November 5, with Parliament dissolved on Wednesday.

This means purdah kicks in. This is the convention that the government does not make any major policy announcements or commitments during the campaign.

The publication of notice of the election will be on November 11.

After that?

These are the main dates you will want to be aware of.

• November 14: Deadline for candidate nominations
• November 26: Deadline to register to vote and apply for postal votes
• December 4: Deadline to apply for a proxy vote

How do I register to vote?

To vote in a general election you need to

• Be 18 or over on the day of the election
• Be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• Be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
• Not be legally excluded from voting

You also need to be on the electorial register. If you've moved recently or changed your name, you need to re-register.

This needs to be done by November 26 (see above ⬆)

You can register here: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

How do I check if I have registered in the past?

You should contact your Local Electoral Registration Office to both check if you're registered or to opt in or out of the open register.

You can get the details here