European elections.... I don't understand

[Happygolucky009]

Perhaps I am being dim, just been to vote in the European elections. There was a wide range of parties (approx7) with most naming 5 candidates standing.

Local elections recently, 2 parties with 4 candidates in total.

Why so many european candidates when we are leaving Europe and why so few options with local elections....

I get they are different but so much choice with brexit why does it seem more candidates

Local councillors get paid less than EuroMPs?

I’m more worried that I’ve just been to vote and there was a queue ! I’ve never seen a queue at a polling station before.

Bit stunned really.

That's what I assumed, but thought that was just cynical 😂

It's a different voting system. If a party got all the votes in a region, all the names listed would become MEPs. If they get say 10% of the votes cast, only their top one will get in. Ish.

MEP elections are for the whole region, and the number of MEPs per region depends on the population. So anywhere between 3 and 10 people being elected in your ballot. (And the major parties will have a regional list as long as the number of seats in your region).

Local elections, 1 - 3 councillors per ward.