Local and general elections: A guide for uni students

Getting on the electoral register means you are able to have a say in decision-making on matters that’ll affect you, your local area and even your country. Voting as a student can get a little confusing, so this guide will run through everything you need to know – like where to find your polling station and when the next general election is.

Local and general elections: A guide for uni students

Getting on the electoral register can help with a whole lot of things. Not only are you able to have a say in decision-making on matters that’ll affect you, your local area and even your country, but it also helps to verify your identity. It comes in handy when renting new digs, signing up for a credit card or taking out a phone contract.

Voting as a student can get a little confusing if you have a term-time address and a separate home address. This guide will run through everything you need to know – like where to find your polling station and when the next general election is.

Local elections vs general elections - what's the difference?

For starters, there’s more than one type of election to be aware of. These are both different but important parts of the UK demographic system. They can happen at the same time – but they aren’t always.

Local elections

A local election is like the local edition of the big thing. You’re choosing local councillors to represent your area. Depending on the size of the council, you may be able to vote for more than one councillor.

Councillors represent everyone in the space they’re elected in and shape the future of the local area. They work with the community to agree and deliver on local priorities. This could be through talking to constituents, informing the community on local issues, responding to queries, and taking part in political activities.

When are local elections?

Local elections take place a minimum of every four years. Some local governments elect half of the local councillors after two years or elect one third each year for three years and have no elections in the fourth.

General elections

Now for the main event. General elections allow you to choose who you want to represent your constituency in parliament. These take place every five years. The candidate that gets the most votes in your constituency becomes your Member of Parliament – or MP.

Your MP represents your constituency in the House of Commons. They’re responsible for debating big political issues and new law proposals.

What is First Past The Post?

MPs are chosen for the House of Commons using a First Past The Post electoral system. The UK is divided into 650 constituencies. Votes take place to elect an MP in each of the 650 constituencies. These MPs each represent a seat in the House of Commons. The party with the majority of seats in the House of Commons becomes the government.

Geography can play a big part in the number of MPs a party has in parliament. If lots of voters in similar parts of the county support the same party, it could mean that they win less seats than a party with less supporters in one area but more spread across the country.

This tends to lead to two large parties, as smaller parties without large geographical support can find it hard to win the majority.

Registering to vote as a student

If you plan to vote from your student accommodation, you’ll need to remember to register at your new term-time address. To do this, all you need to do is go to the government website and register online or use a paper form and send it to your nearest Electoral Registration Office.

Students double voting

Here’s when voting as a student gets interesting. As a student, you can only vote once in your general election – so you need to choose to vote from your home address or your uni accommodation. But you can vote twice in local elections – one at each address – if you’re from the UK.

Don’t forget that you can also vote by post and by proxy (a nominated person can vote on your behalf) if you can’t get to the polling station on the big day.

How to vote in UK elections

Don’t worry. While politics tends to be a tricky subject, voting is surprisingly easy. So here’s how to vote in general and local elections:

• Make sure you’re registered to vote. Checking you’re registered is quick and easy. Don’t miss out on your chance to vote.

• Decide who to vote for. Check out your options before making your decision. Do your own research so you feel confident you’re voting for the person who best reflects your views.

• Find your polling station. Locate the polling station – you’ll be able to find this on your poll card. Hop, skip and jump your way to placing your ballot in the ballot box.

• Show your ID. In some cases, you may need to show your ID at the polling station.

• Fill in the ballot paper. Follow the instructions at the polling booth to cast your vote. Simple as that.

Local and general elections for students: FAQs

When is the next general election?

The General Election 2024 hasn’t been scheduled yet, but it must take place before the end of January 2025. It could happen May 2024, October 2024 or January 2025.

Where is my polling station?

You can find your polling station on your poll card. They’re open 7am to 10pm on the polling day – so everyone should be able to find a time to get their vote in. You’ll usually find your polling station in a public building like a school or local hall.

Can international students vote in the UK?

If you’re an international uni student in the UK while there’s an election, you may be to register to to vote – but it depends on your citizen status and the type of election.

For some elections, anyone with lawful immigration status can vote. But often it’s limited to:

• British citizens

• Irish citizens

• Commonwealth citizens

• Former residents of Hong Kong with certain passport

• A limited number of European Union citizens

To vote in a general election, you must be a British, Irish, or qualifying Commonwealth citizen. For local elections you may also be an EU citizen or a citizen of a different country living in Scotland or Wales that has permission to stay in the UK.

For more up-to-date info on who can and can’t vote, check out the government website.