Election Information
General information
Every five years the House of Keys is dissolved by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and a General Election is held to elect members of the House of Keys.
The House of Keys is the Lower Branch of Tynwald, which consists of 24 members who represent single member and multi member constituencies. The members of the House of Keys are directly elected by the people of the Isle of Man.
The administration of an election is the responsibility of the Chief Secretary's Office.
The amended Representation of the People Act 1995 and the Representation of the People Regulations 2006 are now available in the document which is available to download from the bottom of this page. This document includes the Election Rules at Schedule 2 to the 1995 Act.
How to register to vote
In order to be eligible to vote at a House of Keys election or a local authority election your name must appear on the current electoral register.
The Electoral Registration Unit of the Treasury’s Economic Affairs Division undertakes an annual postal canvass of households and the information collected is used to create registers for each Island constituency. When completing the registration form every eligible member of the household can be included but any member can request another form for his or her personal registration. The Isle of Man has a system of ‘rolling’ registration and this allows residents to register, or alter, their details for the register on an ongoing basis. Registration is not for life and so you should ensure that you complete a registration form every year to be sure that you are included in the register.
For further guidance on how to register to vote, please click here
Guidance for voters
In the Isle of Man there are three methods of voting in House of Keys elections. The guidance for voters document will assist you if you need to register to vote and how to:
- place your vote at a Polling Station
- apply for an Absent vote
- apply for the appointment of a Proxy who will be able to vote on your behalf
Guidance for candidates
The guidance for candidates document aims to provide practical advice to anyone who wants to stand for a House of Keys General Election.
The information is provided as a guide and covers each of the main steps towards standing in a House of Keys election from nomination to the declaration of the result.
Election Information
| Q | Where can I obtain a copy of the Representation of the People Act 1995 and Regulations? |
|---|---|
| A | They can be downloaded free of charge from this website or a paper copy can be obtained from the Tynwald Library, Legislative Buildings, Finch Road, Douglas for £8.60. |
| Q | How can I become a candidate for an Election? |
| A | You should start by reading the Election Rules which form part of the Representation of the People Act. The Returning Officer for your constituency should be able to help with any further questions you may have. |
| Q | Where can I obtain a copy of the Electoral Register? |
| A | The General Registry, Isle of Man Courts of Justice, Deemsters Walk, Douglas can supply a copy of the edited Register. |
| Q | Who supplies the Election Forms? |
| A | The Returning Officer for the constituency in which the candidate is standing. |
| Q | Where can I obtain a Nomination or Absent Voter Form? |
| A | The Returning Officer for your constituency or your local police station can provide these forms. |
| Q | Where can I find my Electoral Number? |
| A | If you do not know your Electoral Number contact:
Economic Affairs Division (Tel: 685754)
General Registry, Deemsters Walk, Douglas (Tel 685749); or
The Returning Officer for your Constituency; or
Your Local Authority or Commissioners Office.
|
| Q | Where can I find a plan of my Constituency? |
| A | Mapping Section, Department of Infrastructure: Maps |
