Get ready to vote in the local & general elections

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/elections-and-voting/general/general-election-timetable-2015/

Who can vote?

You can register to vote if you are:
16 years old or over (but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old)
A British citizen
An Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen who is resident in the UK

NB – Citizens of the European Union who are not Commonwealth citizens can vote in European and local elections in the UK, but are not able to vote in the UK General Election.

How do you register?

You must register by Monday April 20th. If you are registered at a home address where your parents or guardians live, you can request to make a postal vote for that address. If you choose this option, you must request it by Tuesday 21st April at 5pm.
One household member used to register all eligible voters living in the household, but now you must register yourself. No registration = no vote

The easiest and quickest way to regsiter is online http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/
All you need is your full address and National Insurance number, it only takes a few minutes.

The Student Advice Service is teaming up with BSU to promote the voter registration campaign amongst University of Brighton students of all ages. Student Advisers and BSU officers will be armed with ipads helping students register at all campuses between 23rd – 27th March.

Traditionally the number of young people (18 – 24 year olds) who vote is notably lower than the national average, and in the last general election in 2010 less than half eligible voters aged between 18 – 24 used their vote.

Not voted before? Here’s what happens

You will receive a letter or card delivered to the address where you are registered giving you details of where you need to go to vote, your local Polling Station. This is often a public building like a school or library. Polling booths are open between 7am – 10pm on Thursday 7th May 2015. You don’t need your registration card but it makes it easier for the volunteers working at the Polling Stations. A local candidate or canvasser may want to ask you questions before or after you enter the Station, but you can remain completely anonynous.
You will be given a voting slip in exchange for your registration card and you’ll be directed to a confidential area to cast your vote.
It is essential to fill the slip in correctly, so read the instructions carefully as an incorrect slip will not be counted.

The count starts as soon as the booths close at 10pm.

Student Advice Service supports the Bite the Ballot campaign