Snap elections in the United Kingdom

Snap elections in the United Kingdom are parliamentary elections held earlier than the latest date permitted for a Parliament's term, usually at the initiative of the Prime Minister, although some have resulted from votes of no confidence or specific Acts of Parliament.

The prime minister of the United Kingdom has the de facto power to call an election at will by requesting a dissolution from the monarch; the limited circumstances where this would not be granted are set out in the Lascelles Principles. If this does not happen, parliament dissolves automatically after five years, but this never happens; so in effect, most elections since the length of parliament was first limited in 1694, except the one in 2015 (the date for which was fixed by law), have technically been snap elections. The term is thus normally reserved in the British context for elections called significantly earlier than required (after five years since 1911, or after seven years prior to that).