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Students registering to vote

Voting tips for students

We've compiled information about topics you might find helpful if you're a student in York.


Students registering to vote in York and at home

You must register to vote yourself; your college or university can't do it automatically, nor on your behalf. Visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Students are entitled to register at both their home address and their student accomodation address, see: 'Vote depending on where you're registered'.

Although it is an offence to vote more than once in a parliamentary election, you can vote in local elections covering both of your addresses - except if they're in the same 'local authority area'.

Visit the Electoral Commission website for more details.

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Re-registering to vote if you move

You must re-register to vote every time you move house; visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. This applies if you move between halls of residence, into a shared house, or live in other types of accomodation whilst studying in York.

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Check if you're already registered to vote via the Register of Electors

If you're already registered to vote, your name will appear on the Register of Electors. If you're unsure whether you're registered, or where, we can check the register for addresses in York (only).

Contact Electoral Services, telephone: 01904 551007, or email: student.register@york.gov.uk and provide both the address and your name and one of the team will be able to check.

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Benefits of registering to vote

While it is not a legal requirement to vote in elections, it is a legal requirement to register to vote.

Voting is solely your choice and you have the freedom to vote, or not.

Once you're registered to vote your name appears on the Register of Electors, a document used by a number of organisations to ensure fraud and money laundering do not occur. You may be turned down by letting agents or estate agents if your name does not appear on the Register of Electors as they know it's a legal requirement for you to register, and if you haven’t, you may fail their checks.

In the future, banks and other large companies will see 'blanks' in your registration history if you are not registered to vote; this can lead to problems, and you can’t back date your registration history.

It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete your registration online, and could save a lot of time in the future; visit: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

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Vote depending on where you're registered

Parliamentary elections

You can vote in a parliamentary election (sometimes called a 'general election) if you're registered to vote.

Where you're registered (your 'home' polling district, or your 'student accomodation' polling district) will impact where your 'poll card' is sent, and which polling station you can use to vote in person.

If you don’t want to travel to your designated polling station to vote in person, apply in advance to vote by post, or vote by proxy. Applications must be received (in the area where you're registered) no later than12 working days before the election for a postal vote, and 6 working days for a proxy vote.

Local elections

You can vote in local elections taking place in your home polling district (outside of York) and in your student accomodation polling district, provided you're registered to vote in those areas. You can opt to vote in person, or apply in advance to vote by post, or vote by proxy. Applications must be received (by the council in the area where you'd like to cast a postal or proxy vote) no later than12 working days before the election for a postal vote, and 6 working days for a proxy vote.

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Find your polling station if you're registered to vote in York

About 3 weeks before any election the Returning Officer will send you a 'poll card' which:

  • confirms you're registered to vote
  • informs you there's an election coming up
  • tells you the date of the election
  • includes your polling station address or location

Your designated polling station

The address on your poll card is for the polling station designated to your 'polling district'; it's related to the address where you registered to vote. You can vote in person only at the polling station designated for your 'polling district'. This applies even if there's a polling station in your college, university or campus; you cannot use that polling station, if it's not designated to your district. If you arrive at the incorrect polling station you will not be able to cast your vote.

Missing your poll card

If you haven’t received a poll card, and don't know which is your designated polling station, contact Electoral Services on telephone: 01904 551007, or email: student.register@york.gov.uk - provide your name and full address; a member of the team will check you're registered to vote, and which polling station you must attend.

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Knowing who to vote for

It is solely your choice who you vote for, and you must not allow anyone to mark your ballot paper on your behalf (unless they're legally appointed to vote by proxy for you).

All political parities produce manifestos which outline their policies; these are published on their websites.

Most political parties undertake canvassing and leaflet drops, as do independent candidates who are standing for election.

There are often 'hustings' where candidates debate and take part in an Question Time, all of these things will help you decide who to vote for.

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Also see

Electoral Services

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Telephone: 01904 551007