5.Since the first direct elections to the European Parliament in 1979, British voters have elected MEPs using the first-past-the-post system. The Act enables the 1999 and subsequent European Parliamentary elections in Great Britain to be conducted using a regional list electoral system. This system is designed to ensure that in each region parties will win a share of the seats which is broadly proportional to their share of the vote in that region.
6.The new system does not apply to Northern Ireland, which will continue to elect its three MEPs using the single transferable vote system.
Summary