Voter registration
About
voter registration
You need to
register in order to be able to vote in elections and referendums. The
way you register to vote has changed in 2014. The new
system means:
- You
can now register online.
- Everyone
is responsible for registering themselves. Under the old system the ‘head of
every household’ could register everyone who lived at their address.
- You
need to provide a few details to register – including your National Insurance
number and date of birth. This makes the electoral register more secure.
Why
should I register?
To vote: You
need to register in order to be able to vote. If you aren’t registered to vote,
you won’t have the chance to have a say on who represents you.
Some people
also register to vote because they want to apply for credit. This is
because credit reference agencies use the register to confirm where someone
lives when they apply for credit in order to counteract fraud.
As a student, you can register at both your term time address and at the address you live at outside of term time. Lots of students are missing from the electoral register which means you don't get a say in how things are run. No-one else can register for you.
How do
I register?
Registering
to vote is quick, easy and secure.
- Go
to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
- Fill
in your name, address, date of birth and a few other details. You’ll also need
your National Insurance number, which can be found on your National Insurance
card, or in official paperwork such as payslips, or letters about benefits or
tax credits.
- Look
out for confirmation from your local electoral registration staff to say you’re
registered.
If you don’t
have access to the internet or can’t use it, your local electoral registration
staff will be able to help you to register. Telephone
01932 425650 / 425652.