The ceremonial county of Dorset (which comprises the two unitary authorities of Dorset and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) is divided into 8 parliamentary constituencies: 3 borough constituencies and 5 county constituencies.
See 2023 review of Westminster constituencies for further details.
For the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, which redrew the constituency map ahead of the 2024 United Kingdom general election, the Boundary Commission for England opted to retain the eight current constituencies in Dorset, with minor boundary changes to reflect changes to ward boundaries following the reorganisation of local government authorities within the county.
The boundary commission recommended the following seats within Dorset:
Containing electoral wards from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
Containing electoral wards from Dorset (unitary authority)
Primary data source: House of Commons research briefing - General election results from 1918 to 2019
The number of votes cast for each political party who fielded candidates in constituencies comprising Dorset in the 2024 general election were as follows:
Note that before 1983 Dorset did not include the Bournemouth and Christchurch areas (see below).
<sup>1</sup>1950-1979: Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDPâÂÂLiberal Alliance
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Included in Other
Accurate vote percentages are not applicable for the 1918 election because one candidate stood unopposed.
<sup>1</sup>1950-1979: Liberal Party; 1983 & 1987 - SDPâÂÂLiberal Alliance
A cell marked â (with a different colour background to the preceding cell) indicates that the previous MP continued to sit under a new party name.
<sup>1</sup>original candidate, F. Guest (Lib), disqualified; fresh by-election held June 1910