Register to vote in the upcoming general election
There will be a general election on Thursday 4 July.
This is a really important opportunity to have your say on who will lead the UK for the next five years. If you want to vote and aren’t already registered, do it now.
The deadline to register to vote in person or by post has now passed. You may register for a proxy vote (where someone else votes on your behalf) until 17:00 on Wednesday 26 June.
So what exactly is a general election?
A general election is separate from the Students’ Union elections. It is an important nationwide process, a democratic right, and a vital part of being an active citizen.
General elections are how people in the UK choose Members of Parliament (MPs). You’ll vote for a local MP to join the House of Commons, and then the party with the most MPs will form a Government.
The winners of the election will have an enormous influence over your life as a uni student, new graduate and beyond, with a remit covering matters including national education policy, healthcare, environment, immigration and defence. It’s essential that you vote in the election.
Who can register to vote
These guidelines apply to people living in England.
You can register to vote if you are aged 16 or over and:
- A British citizen
- An Irish citizen
- If you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, as a:
- Commonwealth citizen
- Citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
- Citizen of another EU country with continued permission to enter or stay since 31 December 2020.
Commonwealth countries include (but aren’t limited to): Bangladesh, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. View the full list here.
You normally only need to register once, so if you voted in the recent London Mayor election, or a previous local or national election in the UK, you are probably already registered. However you will need to register again if you’ve changed your name, address or nationality.
Want to check if you’re already registered? Contact your local electoral registration office.
UK students: double registration
If you’re a UK (home) student, you are permitted to be registered to vote in two constituencies: your home constituency and your term-time constituency. You will only be allowed to vote once, but this will provide you with flexibility to vote whether you’re at home or university at the time of the election.
How to register to vote
Registering to vote is a straightforward online process. It only takes around two minutes to do – you could register on the DLR, between lectures, standing in the Starbucks queue or even on the loo! There’s no excuse not to take a moment to register.
If you have a National Insurance number we recommend that you have it to hand before you begin. You can register without one but will have to provide alternative identity documents instead, which may delay your application.
You can register to vote on the Government’s website.
Top tips
Voter ID – check you have accepted ID or apply for a free certificate
New rules came in last year which mean you now need photo ID to be able to vote in person. Valid forms of ID include a passport, a biometric residence permit (BRP), or a UK driving license. View the full list of eligible ID. You can’t use your University ID.
If you don’t have any accepted forms of ID (or no longer look like the photo), you can apply for a free voter authority certificate that will enable you to vote. Apply by 17:00 on Wednesday 26 June to get your certificate in time for the general election.
Postal vote – opt for a postal vote if you can’t get to your local polling station on voting day
Most people vote by going in person to their local polling station and filling in a voting paper. If you are due to be away from home on voting day (4 July), or might have any difficulties getting to a polling station, we recommend that you apply for a postal vote. You can apply for a postal vote here. The deadline is 17:00 on Wednesday 19 June.
Who should I vote for?
Only you can decide who is the best person or party to vote for.
We have pulled together a brief summary of each of the main five parties' policies on the things that impact you as a student. We hope the manifesto summary will help you to make up your mind, but we encourage you to read the manifestos and do your own research.