Set to be the first winter poll since 1923, this election is profoundly important – this General Election will decide which party will hold the majority of seats, thereby deciding who will lead Parliament and become Prime Minister.
Set to be the first winter poll since 1923, this election is profoundly important – this General Election will decide which party will hold the majority of seats, thereby deciding who will lead Parliament and become Prime Minister.
After much back and forth, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been allowed to hold a snap election in December, after MPs finally agreed to support his bid for a winter poll.
With the election set for December 12th, the Prime Minister’s one-page bill won the Commons vote with 438 MPs in favor and 20 against. It will now go to the House of Lords, although it is expected to be held up in the upper chamber.
Set to be the first winter poll since 1923, this election is profoundly important – this General Election will decide which party will hold the majority of seats, thereby deciding who will lead Parliament and become Prime Minister. With Tory party Islamophobia and xenophobia marring campaign season, it is more important than ever to get out and vote.
Check whether you’re registered first
First of all, you’ll need to know if you’re registered to vote or not. You only need to register once, and not for every election.
If you have moved to a different constituency, then you’ll have to register to vote again. This therefore applies to students who have moved away from home for studies.
To check whether you’re registered to vote or not, you’ll need to contact your local Electoral Registration Office, and provide your postcode.
How to register to vote
The quickest and easiest way to register is to do it online. You’ll need to have your National Insurance number to register.
For British citizens living abroad, you’ll need your passport information while registering online. The entire process to register to vote should only take around 5 minutes, and is straightforward and easy.
Additionally, you can register by post, by filling in the form by hand and sending it to your local Electoral Registration Office.
Who can vote?
Any British citizen, Northern Irish citizen, or Commonwealth citizen aged 18 or over can vote for this General Election. If you’re a qualified citizen living abroad, you’ll have to have been registered to vote in the UK in the past 15 years.
If you are a Crown servant or British Council employee, or if you are part of the armed forces, there are separate ways to register to vote.
Deadline for registering to vote
The deadline to register to vote is midnight on the 26th of November, as it is usually at least two weeks before the planned election.
Be sure to register as soon as possible, especially as the quick and easy online form will only take 5 minutes of your time. This upcoming General Election is arguably one of the most important decisions that will be made in a climate of Brexit, the rise in Islamophobia and xenophobia, and far-right extremism.
To find out who your local MP is, click here.
Again, to register to vote online, click here.
