General Election: Getting Your Voice Heard
On April 19th, the Prime Minister surprised pretty much everyone by calling an early election.
The next general election was planned to take place inMay 2020, but will now be held in a matter of weekson Thursday 8th June 2017.
To have your say in the election, you will need to register to vote online by Monday 22nd May.
At present, only half of 18-24 year olds in the UK are registered to vote, and with students often living in different places at different times of year,many are not registered to vote where they need to be. It's really important that the views ofstudents and young people are heard in this election, so we want to make sure you are all registered to vote and able to cast your votein this important election.
Not sure if you're registered? What to know a bit more about voting on June 8th? Read on for our quick quide.
“This election is an opportunity for students to be heard. The next government will make big decisions about the future of the UK, including our future relationship with Europe, as well as the future of education funding and what will happen to universities over the next five years. It couldn’t be a more important time for students to make sure they register to vote to have their voices heard. We will be working with the local community to make sure that everyone is registered and ready to vote on Thursday 8th June 2017.”
-Simba Lkaderi, President of your Students' Union
So, what do I need to know?
The next General Election was expected in May 2020, but Prime Minister Theresa May has now announced a General Electionon Thursday 8thJune 2017. This will give all British andCommonwealthcitizens the chance to vote on who they want to represent them locally and nationally. To vote in the election, you will need to register to vote in advance.
How do you register to vote?
Registering to vote is easy. You can now register online atwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
All you need to register are your personal details, including where you live - whether that’s here in Hendon, London or elsewhere in the UK. If your home and term-time addresses are different, give the address you would prefer to vote from on election day on Thursday 8th June. As a student, youmay be entitled to register at both their home address and university address - you can still only vote once in a general election!You can find out more atwww.aboutmyvote.co.uk
By registering to vote, you could also win a trip to Disneyland Paris for you and three friends - click here to find out more!
I am not here on Thursday 8th June
If you cannot vote in person - either at your university address or home address, if these are different - you should vote by post, or by proxy.Click here for more information. Either way, you will still need to register!
Voting by proxy: If you are unable to visit your polling station yourself - due to a physical condition, or being on holiday, for example - you can apply to have someone you trust cast your vote in your place.The deadline to apply to vote by proxy in the UK general election is 5pm on Wednesday 31 May. Click here for more information.
Voting by post:In England, Scotland and Wales, the deadline to apply to vote by post is Tuesday 23 May. You will need to complete a form, print it, sign it and send it back to your local authority. Click here for more information.
I’ve not voted before
You're not alone - this electionwill be the first time that many people have voted. Did you know thatabout 50% of all 18-24 year olds aren’t even registered to vote, compared to less than 5% of those aged over 65?
You can vote locally in person (either near your student accommodation, or at home), by post, or by proxy.Click here for more information.
Remember: you can’t get your voice heard if you aren’t registered to vote, soit’s important to make sure you are registered to vote in advance.
Where do I go to vote?
As long as you have registered to vote, you will receive a polling card to your address before June 8th which will have your local polling station marked on it. Local polling stations to the university are listedhere, or you can click here to search for your local polling station according to the address you are registered at.
Why should I vote?
Voting has been in the news a lot over the past year, from the Brexit referendum last June, to the US Elections in November. You might alsovoted in our own record-breaking MDXSU Elections in March!
Democracy is about people having their say andit is your right to voteand to be heard. People have fought and died for the right to vote for many years, and in many places around the world they still are.Voting in an election is about deciding who will represent you, and will make decisions that affect you.
This is your chance to vote for people and policies that you believe in.
Who should I vote for?
That bit is totally down to you and your choice! You should vote for a party that represents your views and will make the changes and decisions that you want to see. Each political party and candidate will publish a manifesto (a statement telling you their views and what they want to achieve), and there will be lots of commentary and coverage of the elections and their views.
As your Students' Union, over the next few weeks we’ll be helping you understand what the candidates and parties think about particular issues which particularly affect students, including education, universities and work and jobs.
I’m not sure if I can I vote
Not all students studying in the UK are eligible to vote in the general election. To vote, you must be a British or Irish citizen, at least 18 years old and registered to vote. Citizens from Commonwealth nations or a British Overseas Territory will also be eligible to vote if you have registered, however you should check whether voting in the UK would have any effect on your rights in your home country.Click here for more information.
