A Guide To Voting

A GUIDE TO VOTING

HOW DO I REGISTER TO VOTE?

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To register to vote visit the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

You just need to fill in where you live, your date of birth, name, nationality, and National Insurance Number.

You can register from 16 in England and Northern Ireland, and from 14 in Scotland and Wales. It only takes 5 minutes!

WHERE DO I FIND MY NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER?

This should have been posted or emailed to you once your turned 16. If you have a job, it will be on your payslip

WHERE CAN I VOTE?

VOTING IN PERSON

Before an election, if you are registered, you will receive a poll card in the post which will tell you where your polling station will be. The polling station will be relatively close to where you live

VOTING BY POST

If you know you won’t be able to get to your polling station on Election Day, you might want to consider a postal vote This could be because you’re away on holiday or because your work/school schedule makes it hard to get to the polling station.

You need to apply for a postal vote with your local elections team no later than 11 working days before Election Day.

VOTING BY PROXY

You can ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf such as a parent, carer, or friend If you chose to vote by proxy, you need to register no later than six working days before polling day and normally you need a reason, such as being away on Election Day.

VOTER ID

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For all elections in England and Northern Ireland, and general elections in Scotland and Wales, you will need to bring ID to vote to prove your identity.

It needs to be the original version and not a photocopy, but can be out of date so long as it looks like you.

Some accepted forms of photo ID for young people:

UK Passport

Driving Licence (including a provisional licence).

Identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards

Scheme hologram (a PASS card).

WHAT HAPPEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE ID

If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You will need your National Insurance Number and a recent photo of yourself. Additionally, you can get a Citizen Card for free using the code FREEVOTERID.

A Citizens Card is: an accepted form of voter ID

Recognised by retailers

Recognised by police

Verifiable online

A Citizens Card can also be your first form of photo ID To apply, you will need to verify your identity using an original document and referee

WHY SHOULD I REGISTER TO VOTE?

Once you’re 18 you can take part in jury duty. People are only invited to be a part of jury duty if they are registered to vote. You need to fill in less paperwork when doing things like applying to rent a house, getting insurance, applying for a passport, or buying certain things online. This is because companies can check your details against the electoral register.

Here are some local and national issues that voting can count towards:

Environmental Policies

Education

Health

Bar and club opening hours

Recycling and waste management

Local public transport networks

Foreign policy and aid

WHAT HAPPE ON POLLIN DAY?

Polls open from 7.00am – 10.00pm on polling day. If you are still in the queue after 10pm you still have the right to vote. You must bring Photo ID

You don’t need your poll card to vote –but it does contain useful information.

Polling staff are there to help you if you’re unsure.

WHAT DOES EACH POLITICAL PARTY STAND FOR?

Please find below links to each major political party website where you can find their individual policies:

The Conservative Party

The Labour Party

Liberal Democrats

The Green Party

Reform UK