What voting rights does the UK have?

* The right to vote in general elections. General elections are held every five years to elect members of the House of Commons, the lower house of the UK Parliament.

* The right to vote in local elections. Local elections are held every four years to elect members of local councils.

* The right to vote in referendums. Referendums are held on important issues of national or local importance.

* The right to vote in European Union elections. European Union elections are held every five years to elect members of the European Parliament.

In order to vote in the UK, you must:

* Be registered to vote. You can register to vote online or by post.

* Be 18 years of age or older on the day of the election.

* Be a British citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen.

* Not be legally excluded from voting. This includes people who are serving prison sentences or who have been declared mentally incompetent.

You can vote by post, in person at a polling station, or by proxy. If you vote by post, you must send your ballot paper back to the electoral registration office by the deadline. If you vote in person at a polling station, you must bring your polling card with you. If you vote by proxy, you must appoint someone to vote on your behalf.

The UK has a long history of democracy and voting rights. The first democratic elections were held in the 13th century, and the right to vote has been gradually extended over the years. Today, the UK has one of the most extensive voting rights in the world.