A General Election has just been called and the country is revving up for the next 5 weeks of campaigning from political parties.
It is vital that students have their voices heard and use their vote in the upcoming election on Thursday 4 July. You can help shape the future of the UK and be involved in changes in policies that may affect you and your education. So, if you aren’t registered to vote, make sure to do it as soon as possible!
You must register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 18 June 2024.
Who can vote in the General Election?
You can register to vote if you’re a British citizen or an Irish citizen. You can also register if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, or you do not need permission, and you’re a:
- Commonwealth citizen, including nationals from countries such as India, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka and Canada.
- Citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain.
- Citizen of another EU country, if you have had permission to enter or stay, or not needed permission, since 31 December 2020, and this has continued without a break.
Check out this website to see if you are eligible to vote in the General Election.
How do I register to vote?
The fastest and easiest way to register to vote is online, the process usually takes around 5 minutes. You can do this on the UK Government’s website here.
If you’d prefer, you can also register by filling in a paper form that you can find at the same link.
You only need to register once - not for every election, however, you’ll need to re-register if you’ve changed your name, address or nationality. So, if you’ve moved into new accommodation since you last voted, you need to register again to be able to vote.
You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one). You can use this website to find your National Insurance number if you can’t remember it.
General Election Hustings
Medway
The Universities at Medway are joining in partnership with KM Media Group and Maxim to host a free hustings at the Medway campus on Monday 17 June.
All of the candidates standing in the General Election from the three Medway constituencies have been invited to attend. Find out more and book your place here.
If you are unable to attend the event in-person, the hustings will be available to watch live on the KMTV website here.
Canterbury
A free hustings event is being held in Augustine House on Wednesday 19 June, where you can meet the local candidates for Canterbury and have the chance to ask your questions.
Please note - this event is now fully booked, however you can watch the hustings live on the KMTV website here.
I have two addresses – one at university and my home address – what do I do?
Students are allowed to register to vote at more than one address (University and home) if they consider both places to be a permanent home. However, please be aware that it is illegal to vote in two different places during this upcoming election, so you must pick one.
As the election is taking place on 4 July, it might be more likely that you will be living back at your home address during this time.
Do I need ID to be able to vote?
Yes, you must show a valid form of ID to be eligible to vote in this election. Accepted forms of ID include your Passport, Driving Licence, Blue Badge, PASS card and Voter Authority Certificate.
Student ID is not accepted as a valid form of ID to be able to vote.
If you don’t have a valid form of ID, you can get a FREE CitizenCard from the NUS here, which you can use to vote. The deadline to apply for a CitizenCard is Thursday 20th June, so don’t leave it too late!
Will you be away on holiday during the election?
If you’re going to be out of the country on 4 July, you can still vote, however you’ll need to apply for a postal vote or proxy vote. A postal vote means that you will post your vote before you leave the UK, and a proxy vote allows you to authorise someone else to vote on your behalf.
Looking after your wellbeing during the General Election
Elections can be an exciting time for some people, however it can provide stress and worry for others. Campaigns can dominate both traditional and social media and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information.
If you find elections difficult or are feeling worried about the 2024 election, then being aware of why the experience may have negative impacts on your wellbeing and planning your engagement deliberately, can really help you to maintain your wellbeing.
UK student mental health charity, Student Minds, have created a variety of helpful resources to offer guidance and top tips on how to look after your wellbeing during the General Election, click here to find out more.