There’s going to be a General Election by January 2025.
Our future will be built by the students and young people of today. But only if we are heard.
Voting gives power, influence and a stake in society. When politicians make decisions, they look at who is on the electoral register and who votes. So it is crucial that all students and young people are registered to vote.
The student population is big enough to decide the outcome in loads of areas across the country. In the constituencies where Keele University and University for the West of England for example, there are more students than the difference in votes between the two leading parties at the last election. The power is in our hands, we just need to use it.
Did you know?Students can register to vote at both their home and term-time address, although you can only vote at one. So don’t get caught out - if you don’t know where you’re going to be when a General Election is called, or where your vote can have the most impact, get registered at both. You can become a postal voter. Even if you’re not physically at the address you’d like to vote in on polling day, apply to vote by post. Lots of international students are eligible to vote, but many don’t know it. Students from Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories and the Republic of Ireland can vote, see the full list of countries here. You need to show photo ID when you vote – and your student card isn’t accepted. NUS has teamed up with Citizen Card to offer students a free voter ID (usually £15). Use the code ‘NUS’ or visit this link. |
Together we need to get hundreds of thousands students across the country ready to make themselves heard at the ballot box. Will you help us get every student at your university registered to vote?
How can you help?
1) Whether you’re a member of a society, a sports club, or in a group chat with your course mates, you’re already part of lots of different student communities. Will you help get the message out to all the students you know?
WhatsApp to all students - copy and paste below or click here for template message
🗳️ There’s going to be a General Election in the next few months. It’s a once in a generation opportunity to shape our future and we need every student to vote and make ourselves heard.
📋 Are you registered to vote yet? It takes 5 mins and all you need is your National Insurance Number Https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
✊ The student population at our uni is so big we can literally decide the outcome in this area. The power is in our hands, we just need to use it!
Send this message now!
WhatsApp to international students - copy and paste below or click here for template message
🗳️ There’s going to be a General Election in the next few months. It’s a once in a generation opportunity to shape our future and make sure that international students’ voices are finally heard.
🌍 There are lots of international students that can vote in the UK but don’t realise it. There’s lots of students from Commonwealth countries at our uni that absolutely can and should vote. Check if you’re eligible here https://canivote.org.uk/
📋 If you are eligible to vote, register to vote! It takes 5 mins and all you need is your National Insurance Number Https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
✊ The student population at our uni is so big we can literally decide the outcome in this area. The power is in our hands, we just need to use it!
Send this message now!
2) Ask your club, society or uni department to spread the message and encourage all its members to get General Election ready. They could make announcements at the next event, run a mini registration drive, plus NUS has a load of voter reg social media graphics they can share on their accounts
Downloadable & editable graphics:
3) Your university has a responsibility to help get its students on the electoral register, the uni regulator even requires them to. Send our template email to ask your uni what it’s doing to get students registered to vote.
Dear XXX,
There’s going to be a General Election by January 2025.
This is a once in a generation chance for change. When politicians make decisions, they look at who is on the electoral register and who votes. So it is crucial that all students and young people are registered to vote.
I believe it’s so important that our university is doing absolutely everything it can to make sure that students here can exercise our democratic right to vote. It’s also a regulatory condition with the Office for Students. With an autumn General Election looking increasingly likely, it will be harder than ever for students to get registered at their term time address in time. We mustn’t miss a single opportunity over summer and the start of the academic year to get as many of our new and returning students on the electoral register as possible.
That’s why I’ve joined NUS’ Turn Up campaign, the biggest student registration drive ever. From including a voter registration option as part of student enrolment, to sending all student emails and setting up voter reg stalls on campus and in halls, there’s lots that universities can do.
Our future will be built by the students and young people of today. But only if we are heard. How will you commit to helping?
