英國大選你不知道的6件事

1. How does the election work?
大選是怎樣運作的？

Britain's parliament has 650 members. Any party that wins an outright majority of 326 or more seats can form a government.
英國議會有650名成員。任何黨派只要獲得不少于326個席位的絕對多數，就可以組建政府。

2. What if no party wins a Commons majority??
如果沒有黨派贏得下議院的多數席位怎么辦？

The situation becomes more complex if no party has a majority of MPs. The largest single party could try to form a minority government, but this would involve difficulties with getting business done and could prove unworkable. It, or other parties, could try to form a coalition, with the result that their combined MPs provide a Commons majority. Or it could reach an informal agreement with another party not to vote against it when a "no-confidence" motion is tabled by the opposition, enabling it to become a sustainable government.
要是沒有哪個黨派贏得多數議員席位的話，情況就復雜了。獲得席位最多的政黨可以組建少數派政府，但這可能會在施政時遇到許多困難，也可能根本行不通。如果某幾個黨派的下議院議員總數之和超過半數，它們也可以嘗試組建聯合政府。議席最多的政黨還可以和另一政黨達成非正式協議，在遇到反對黨的不信任案時不予支持，這樣政府還能繼續執政。

3. How much does it cost to run an election?
進行一次大選要花多少錢？

The last UK general election, in 2010, cost ￡84.6m to administer (excluding the cost of postal delivery).
2010年英國大選花了8460萬英鎊（不包括郵費）。

4. Why are elections held on Thursdays?
為什么選舉總在周四？

One theory about the Thursday origins is that people were not paid until Fridays and so holding polls on Thursdays ensured they were not too drunk to vote.
一種說法是周五才會發工資，周四選舉能保證人們不會因為宿醉而無法投票。

5. Does the Queen vote?
女王投票嗎？

Queen Elizabeth cannot vote because she is part of the legislature. "As Head of State, The Queen must remain politically neutral, since her Government will be formed from whichever party can command a majority in the House of Commons," the monarchy site explains. Other royals can vote - and can even stand for election - but do not do so in order to maintain neutrality.
作為立法機關的一員，伊麗莎白女王不能投票。皇室網站對此的說明是“身為國家元首，女王必須保持政治中立，因為任何贏得下議院多數席位的黨派都將為她組建政府”。其它皇室成員可以投票，甚至可以為選舉拉票。但他們為了保持中立不這樣做。

6. Can you tweet about voting?
可以發和投票有關的微博嗎？

The Electoral Commission warns against doing it inside the polling station, even if it's about your own vote. Elsewhere you are free to publicise your vote.
選舉委員會警告人們不要在投票點發微博，就算是發自己的投票也不行。在投票點以外的其他地方，你可以想發就發。

However, there are strict laws against revealing someone else's vote, including influencing whether they publish it themselves.
但是，法律嚴禁公布別人的投票情況，包擴對別人是否自行公布結果施加影響。

（來院：滬江英語，編輯 Helen）