Many students don’t realise that they can vote in the area where they are studying. With a general election coming up soon, if you’re wanting to vote, you’ll need to register. Once you’re registered, you’ll be able to vote not only in the General election but by-elections and local elections in your area.
If you’re eligible, you can register to vote online. The process only takes five minutes and is easy to complete. Read on for our guide to registering to vote.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible to vote in the UK, You can register if you’re both aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland) AND a UK citizen (or an Irish, EU or Commonwealth citizen with a permanent UK address).
Note that you’ll not be able to vote until you’re 18 (16 if you live in Scotland), but this will not really matter to university students.
What do I need to register?
You’ll need your National Insurance number to hand. If you don’t have one, you’ll still be able to register to vote. You’ll also need the details of your old addresses if you’ve moved in the last five years.
If you don’t have a permanent address, you can still register at a place where you spend a significant amount of time, such as a parents’ address. You’ll need to download a ‘Declaration of local connection’ form from the GOV.UK website if this is the case.
Make sure you opt-out of the open register! By doing this, your name and details will not appear on the version of the register that any person or company can purchase for marketing purposes.
How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also contact your local council if you’d like to register by post.
What are the deadlines for the General election?
Register by 11:59pm on 26 November to vote in the General Election on 12 December.
If you want to apply to vote by post, register before 5pm on 26 November if you live in England, Scotland or Wales and it was at 5pm on 21 November if you live in Northern Ireland.
This is how to register to vote in the UK
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