House of Keys Election 2026
The next House of Keys General Election will be held on Thursday 24 September 2026.
Elections to the House of Keys
The House of Keys is the popularly elected Branch of Tynwald, the Island’s parliament. Every five years the people of the Isle of Man have an opportunity to vote in a General Election to choose who will represent them in the House of Keys by electing 24 Members from 12 constituencies, with 2 representatives per area.
Who runs the election?
The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald does not run the general election. Isle of Man Government, and specifically the Crown Division in Cabinet Office, is responsible for administering elections. The Crown & Elections Team publish all information relating to the general election online on a public website https://elections.gov.im/
Voting
Taking part in elections is a fundamental democratic right. However, to be able to exercise this right you must be registered to vote.
If you wish to vote in the House of Keys general election on 24 September 2026 must be registered as an elector by 25 August 2026.
More information: https://elections.gov.im/house-of-keys-general-election-2026/#voting
First Time Voters
A short video has been produced aimed at encouraging first-time voters - especially those aged 16 to 20 years old - to vote in this year’s Isle of Man General Election. The video was created by Dr Catriona Mackie and Prof. Peter Edge in in consultation with the Crown and Elections Team and the Clerk of Tynwald’s Office to ensure the information provided is up-to-date and accurate. The video explores what politicians do, why young people should vote, and why everyone’s vote matters. It also covers the practicalities of voting, such as how to register to vote and what happens when you go to the polling station. Finally, the video explains how to consider which candidate(s) to vote for. The video is available on YouTube at https://youtu.be/vEGMca-y5Q0.
Which constituency do I live in?
The 12 constituencies for the House of Keys are listed below.
- Arbory, Castletown and Malew
- Ayre and Michael
- Douglas Central
- Douglas East
- Douglas North
- Douglas South
- Garff
- Glenfaba and Peel
- Middle
- Onchan
- Ramsey
- Rushen
You can find out which constituency you live in using the Isle of Man Government online mapping service. Click on to the democracy map link below, enter your postcode or manually search for a property address to find information about House of Keys constituencies and polling stations: External link to the Isle of Man Democracy map
Standing
What is involved in the role of being an MHK?
The role of an elected representative in Tynwald encompasses many different elements. The core work of an MHK (Member of the House of Keys) is to represent the people, make laws, and hold government to account while contributing to the governance of our Island. As a parliamentary member, an MHK will also be involved in policy development, committee work and community engagement. Some MHKs are appointed as Ministers or political members of Departments adding another dimension to the role.
Watch a short video in which Dr Alex Allinson, MHK for Ramsey, talks about his experience of the role, and the support available for those who are elected: https://youtu.be/mNOD7uC66p0?si=BpLqcX3SKt93vo6Z
- The latest version of the House of Keys Standing Orders includes more information about all these roles: House of Keys Standing Orders - 2026-PP-0033.pdf
- Read more about the House of Keys: Tynwald | About | House-of-keys
- Read more about our System of Governance: Tynwald | Learn | System-of-Governance
Can I stand as an MHK?
To be eligible to stand for election, candidates must be 18 years or over, a British citizen or have the right to remain in the Island, and meet residency criteria. Candidates must also be a registered elector in the Isle of Man and not legally disqualified.
Candidate information
People who are interested in standing for election to the House of Keys need to be confident that:
- They meet all of the requirements to be able to stand as a candidate
- They understand the process for nomination and
- They are aware of the rules that apply to election spending and donations
Advice and information can be found on the Isle of Man Government elections pages for each constituency: https://elections.gov.im/house-of-keys-general-election-2026/
Can I stand as a candidate in a political party?
There are currently three registered political parties in the Isle of Man:
- Isle of Man Green Party
- Manx Labour Party, also known as MLP
- The Liberal Vannin Party, also known as LibVan, Liberal Vannin, and The LibVan
Guidance for political parties is available on the website: https://elections.gov.im/house-of-keys-general-election-2026/
What is involved in standing for election in the Isle of Man?
Comprehensive information about the General Election is available online on the Crown and Elections website including finding out about the process, how to stand as a candidate, how to vote, legislation relating to the election, accessibility and polling stations: www.gov.im/elections
Accessibility
If you have accessibility needs and are considering standing in the General Election, please contact us directly.
Resources for schools
KS2 (Ages 7 – 11)
UK Electoral Commission resources
| My First Vote |
| Produced by the UK Electoral Commission, My First Vote takes students through a mock voting process – asking them to choose between three candidates. The lesson does not go into the UK system in depth, so can be used for the Isle of Man but you may wish to discuss the questions related to the Manx political system at the end of these resources alongside this lesson. Links to resources (external website): My First Vote Session Plan My First Vote PowerPoint My First Vote Worksheet |
| Truth tracker |
| Produced by the UK Electoral Commission, the Truth Tracker mini-session teaches how information spreads and how to spot what is real or fake in a truth tracker challenge. Links to resources (external website): Truth Trackers mini-session |
Manx resources
| Scavenger Hunt – Mini Session |
| Adapted from the UK Electoral Commission resources, this Scavenger Hunt introduces students to key concepts relating to voting and the Isle of Man General Election. Links to resources: Scavenger Hunt (Manx version) Scavenger Hunt worksheet (Manx version) |
Questions to consider in class:
| Who do we vote for in a General Election on the Isle of Man? Members of the House of Keys. |
| Who do Candidates on the Isle of Man represent? Candidates represent their constituency – the area in which they live. |
| How many MHKs are there? There are 24 MHKs. Each constituency elects 2 MHKs to represent it. |
| Which constituency are we in? The Island Democracy Map on the Government website can be used to look up the address of the school and which constituency it is in https://www.gov.im/maps |
| Do you know who your elected representatives are currently? Profiles of the current Member of the House of Keys can be found at https://tynwald.org.im/members-officers/members |
| Have you taken part in an election or a vote before? • School council • School mock election • Voting for a competition winner • Polls/surveys where you chose your favourite book, movie, game, etc. • Deciding what to eat at home |
KS3 and above:
Isle of Man Government Official General Election Website
The Crown & Elections Team publish all information relating to the general election online on a public website:
https://elections.gov.im/
https://elections.gov.im/house-of-keys-general-election-2026/
Manx Radio Election Website
Including content from candidates and live constituency programmes :
https://www.manxradio.com/election-2026/
Tynwald Website
The Tynwald Companion is a guide to the workings and procedures of the High Court of Tynwald and its Branches: https://tynwald.org.im/TC
The content on the Tynwald website is managed by the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald. The Office of the Clerk of Tynwald does not run the general election.
Other related Tynwald resources
| Printed Booklets Tynwald Ted shows you around the parliament of the Isle of Man - our Tynwald mascot explains the Chambers and history of Tynwald to a younger audience. A Student’s Guide to Tynwald – KS3 resource provides an overview of the workings and history of Tynwald for students. An Introduction to Tynwald - A-Level resource designed to support an in-house visit to Chambers. |
| KS4: Teacher Resources First produced in 2019, these resource packs cover the Isle of Man Parliament and the Isle of Man’s relationship with the United Kingdom, how politics affect young people and how they can get involved. Links to resources: Lesson 1 What is Tynwald Lesson 2 Why does it matter to me Lesson 3 Representation Lesson 4 Democracy |
| KS5 Workshop Programme Contact us for details on the six block programme we have developed to be delivered in schools or college with a visit to Chambers to see theory put into practice. |
| Visit Arrange a visit to Chambers and we can design a session to help students at any age learn more about Tynwald and ways to get involved with the parliament of the Isle of Man: https://tynwald.org.im/visit/schools |