#TeamUofG Student Newsletter

A UK General Election has been called for Thursday 4^th July.

We want to ensure that all staff and students at the University of Glasgow who are eligible to vote can vote if they want to. To assist you with taking part in the upcoming election, below is some advice on how best to prepare for election day.

Who can vote?

If you are a member of staff or a student, you can vote in a UK General Election if you are:

• Over the age of 18
• A British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland
• Are registered to vote
• Are not serving any convictions

Registering to vote

If you have not done so already, you can register to vote via the GOV.UK website before 11.59pm on the 18 June. That website has advice on how to do register and how to apply for a postal or proxy vote.

Once registered, you have until 5pm on 19 June to register for a postal vote and 5pm on 26 June to register for a proxy vote.

Bringing ID with you on polling day

The UK Government recently introduced a rule that voters must bring ID with them to the polling station on election day. You can find a full list of accepted photo ID here. Please ensure that you arrive at the polling station equipped with this on 4 July.

Registering at your term-time address (for students)

Students can be registered to vote at more than one address, owing to the fact you may split your time between home, and a term-time address. Again, you can register at GOV.UK to ensure you are able to participate in the electoral process on polling day.

It is illegal to vote more than once in a general election.

How to vote

How to vote in person

You will receive a polling card at your address prior to the election. This will tell you which polling station you should go to on 4 July, and between which times (from 7am to 10pm).

If you have not received a polling card and you think you should have, you should contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

You do not need to bring your polling card with you to vote, but you will need to show photo ID before you vote at polling stations.

How to vote by post

If you cannot get to the polling station, or would prefer not to, you can vote by post. You will need to register for a postal vote before 5pm on 19 June. The elections team at your local council will need to receive your postal vote by 10pm on polling day.

If you already have a long-term postal vote that you applied for before 31 October 2023, this will now expire on 31 January 2026.

How to vote by proxy

You can appoint someone to make your vote for you. Unlike for a postal vote, you need to show a reason why you cannot get to the polling station when you make your application, and you will need to apply for a proxy vote before 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

You need to tell your proxy who you want to vote for, and they must follow that when they make your vote for you at your designated polling station. If you nominate a proxy, the person you choose to vote on your behalf will need to show their own photo ID to cast your vote.

If you applied for a proxy vote before 31 October 2023, this expired on 31 January 2024 and you need to apply for a new one.

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First published: 12 June 2024