Sywell Village

If you need help, you should contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

I'm a student. Where do I register to vote?

If you are a student, you can register to vote at both your home and term-time addresses but remember that in a general election it is illegal to vote more than once. For tactical reasons, you might decide it is better to vote in one location or the other – for example, you might usually live in a marginal seat, and your university address might be in a safe seat, or vice-versa.

One further complication this time around – Thursday 12 December is close to when term finishes, so you might already have travelled home. But there is nothing stopping you applying for a postal vote in your university constituency if you want to vote there.

What do I do if I can't vote in person on 12 December?

There are two ways to vote if you can't be there to vote in person on the day of an election – with either a postal vote or a proxy vote. To apply for a postal or proxy vote you must already be registered to vote and on the electoral roll.

Voting by proxy

A proxy vote means someone can vote on your behalf. Anyone can act as your proxy provided they're registered to vote and allowed to vote in the same type of election.

Usually, you need to apply for a proxy vote at least six working days before election day if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales – ie before 5 December. There are different forms to fill in depending on the reason you want the proxy vote, which can be:

• You'll be away.
• You'll be at work.
• You'll be attending a course.
• You're disabled.
• You're living overseas.
• You're serving overseas as a member of the armed forces.
• You're a British Council employee or Crown servant (for example diplomatic or overseas civil service).

There's a different form to apply to vote by proxy in Northern Ireland and you need to apply at least 14 working days before election day – ie before 21 November.

Voting by post

Anyone registered to vote in an election can apply for a postal vote. You don't need to give a reason. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you need to fill in this form and then send it to your local Electoral Registration Office. If you want to vote by post in Northern Ireland, you need to follow the instructions here from the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

How can I be sure if I am registered to vote?

If you have any doubts that you are registered to vote, you should contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can use this service to find the address » Less