In the latest of our series of articles looking ahead to polling day, Elizabeth Jones tells us how easy it is to register to vote.
MP Rosie Cooper said she is honoured to have served West Lancashire for the past 17 years. However, the effects of being targeted by a neo-Nazi group who planned to kill her has taken its toll.
As we are between general elections, a by-election is needed in order to fill her seat in Parliament. This means anyone who lives locally and who is not already registered to vote doesn’t have long to get on the list and have their say on the next MP for West Lancashire.
Students are less likely to be on the electoral roll at their university address so are among those that need to take action.
There are many reasons why students should register to vote, the main one being that policies implemented by MPs affect them too. If there was a significant issue bothering a student, they could write to their local MP who could help create a discussion with relevant people or raise the issue in parliament to help. For example, during the pandemic many students contacted their local MPs to help lobby for more financial help for students, leading to additional hardship funding for higher education institutions. Last week’s blog by Thomas Jones gives a few more reasons why voting is important.
One of the things that puts students off voting, and many others for that matter, is registering to vote. This article will give a simple step-by-step guide showing just how easy the process is.
- Visit the .GOV website for registering to vote. Or type into a search engine: register to vote.
- There is a button saying ‘Start now’. Get started with the form. It usually only takes about 5 minutes.
- Answer the questions. If you are a student make sure that you are registered at both your home address and term time address. This means you can vote in local elections in both areas.
All done!
Registering to vote is quick and easy to do, so if you have a few minutes to spare, why not register to vote? You could even do it right now.
Elizabeth Jones is a second-year student studying BSc (Hons) Psychology and Criminology and wrote this blog as part of the Edge Hill University Politics Lab.
December 7, 2022
