How are elections to the Gibraltar Parliament held?

Short answer

Gibraltar elects 17 Members of Parliament from a single territory-wide constituency, with each voter able to cast up to ten votes, and general elections held at least every four years.

Detailed answer

The Gibraltar Parliament is a single chamber of 18 members: 17 elected Members of Parliament and a Speaker, who is appointed by Parliament. The current arrangement dates from the Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006, which increased the number of elected members from 15 to 17.

The whole of Gibraltar forms one constituency. Elections use a limited voting system under the Parliament Act: each elector has one vote per seat contested, capped at ten. Voters can choose any combination of candidates, and the 17 candidates with the most votes are elected. Because each voter casts several votes, party vote totals in election results are much higher than the number of people who voted.

Members serve four-year terms. Under the Constitution, writs for a general election must be issued within 30 days of Parliament being dissolved, and the election held no later than three months after the writs are issued.

After an election, the Governor appoints as Chief Minister the person who commands a majority in Parliament. The Chief Minister chooses Ministers from among the elected members, with the Governor's approval, and the remaining members form the Opposition.

At the most recent general election, on Thursday 12 October 2023, 19,256 votes were cast. The GSLP-Liberal Alliance won 9 seats and the Gibraltar Social Democrats 8.

Parliament meets in the Parliament building on John Mackintosh Square, and sessions are open to the public.