Register to Vote

As a student, you are usually able to register to vote at both your home and term-time addresses.

You are able to vote in both places for local elections if your two addresses are in different local authority areas.  However you must choose one location for a general election.

General elections F&Qs

How do I register to vote?

Register here

How do I check if I’m already registered?

You can check with you local authority to see if you are already registered. If you voted in local elections or last year’s EU Referendum and haven’t moved then you’re probably already registered. However, any change of term time address will mean you will need to re-register to vote.

Who can vote in the general election?

British citizens and an Irish, qualifying Commonwealth, or European Union Citizen living in the UK:

List of eligible countries

How can I vote if I’m not in my constituency when a general election is called?

You can apply for either a postal vote or a proxy vote

A postal vote is sent to you and you can fill in your ballot and post it off before a certain date, OR bring it with you to your Polling Station on the day. There is a deadline for registering for a postal vote. Register here

A proxy vote is when you approve someone else to vote in person on your behalf, such as a parent or friend. You can ask anyone to act as your proxy - as long as they’re registered to vote and they’re allowed to vote in the same type of election, they don’t have to be registered in the same constituency as you. There is also a deadline to apply for a proxy vote if an election is called. Apply here

Where can I vote?

You can only vote in person at your local Polling Station. Find yours here

Do I need my polling card to vote?

You should receive this in the post prior to an election, (contact your local authority if you have not) however you don’t need to bring it with you in order to vote, simply your name and address.

Where should I vote in the general election?

Students can register twice, in their home constituency and term time constituency, but you can only vote once so choose carefully. Where will your vote have the most impact? Find out if your constituency’s voting history online.

International students

Below is the advice provided by the NUS for International students during the May 2015 elections. Although outdated, some of the advice provided by the NUS is still relevant and useful and would be a good starting point for international students in the UK to know about their voting rights.

Guidance for International Students on Voting Rights from UKCISA and the NUS

International Students can vote in the General Election too!

International Students can vote in the General Election too poster

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