The 2010 General Election is expected to be one of the closest in history. The student vote has the potential to have a huge impact on the outcome. However, only if you get out and vote on election day can you make a difference.
Am I eligible to vote?
To be eligible to vote in the General Election you must be:
- 18 years of age (although you can add yourself on the electoral register at 16); A resident in the UK;
- A British citizen;
- A qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland. If you have a student visa, then you are eligible to vote.
Polling card
If you have registered to vote you should receive a card through the post. The poll card will tell you where and when you can vote.
You can vote without your polling card. However, do take this with you as it will speed up the process.
Do you live in halls of residence?
You halls may have kept your polling card for safe keeping. If you have not registered to vote, your halls of residence may have done this automatically. Check with them to see if this is the case.
Casting your ballot
As a student you may be registered to vote at your home and term time address. However remember, you can only vote once.
In person: Your local polling station will be open from 7.00am until 10.00pm. You will receive a polling card before the election. This will have information on where you can vote. Remember your polling card when you vote, however, you can vote without your card. In Northern Ireland you will need ID in order to cast your ballot.
By post: You can vote by post (excludes Northern Ireland) if you’ve previously applied. The ballot needs to reach the electoral office by 10pm on 6 May.
By proxy: If you have applied you can also appoint someone to vote on your behalf if you are ill or abroad during the election. They will vote at your polling station during the usual election hours.