Q&A thread for students and absent voters for voting in the General Election

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Not a thread for telling people how to vote and I'm praying for someone to come along who has actual experience working as an electoral officer.

In the mean time. Read this: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_file/UKPE-Part-D-Absent-voting.pdf

Students can register to vote at their home address and at university, but they must only vote in one place. They can ask for a postal vote or a proxy vote if they aren't going to be in their chosen location during the election.

Postal votes are supposed to be sent as soon as practically possible. In general councils seem to aim for about two weeks before hand.

A postal vote may be handed into the council in person before the election and also can be dropped into the box at their nominated polling station on election day. So it's a safer option if they aren't sure where they are going to be.

Proxy voting is another option. This is where they vote as you ask them to. So they must be trusted by you! A proxy voter may only vote as proxy for two people unless they are a close relative.

Please visit your local council page for more info on these options and to apply.

For those who live abroad and need to nominate a proxy voter then
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/712178/Apply-to-vote-by-proxy-if-youre-living-overseas.pdf

is the place to start :)
It's worth noting that many people living overseas were disenfranchised in the recent european elections because councils didn't get postal votes out in time. So it is by far the safer option if you have someone you trust.

My father has organised a proxy vote with a (trusted) neighbour as he's often abroad for extended periods.

As it happens, I think for once he's going to be around for this election

If people aren't sure whether they are registered to vote, they can use this tool to find out who to contact to ask.
www.gov.uk/get-on-electoral-register

If you aren't registered you can do it via the .gov website.
www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

You do need your national insurance number. If you are a student, you can probably find it on your student finance paperwork. Otherwise:
www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number

Do this quickly, especially if you can't find your NI!!! check today.

I didn't know that but did wonder flouncy :)

Fortunately my dad's proxy is a neighbour so will know that dad hasn't gone gallivanting and spending the kids' inheritance travelling again

We live in France and have postal proxy votes set up with DD. She gets the ballot papers a couple of weeks before, votes and puts them in the post.

This is one thing I love about MN, a collection of global experiences and knowledge.

Just to add (sorry for statement of truly bloody obvious) that we use postal proxy because our DD does not live in our old constituency and therefore can't just hand them in.

inews.co.uk/news/politics/register-to-vote-general-election-2019-how-uk-snap-online-electoral-register-deadline-explained-494388

If the election bill doesn't get pulled then this has useful info including for those in Northern Ireland.

www.gov.uk/get-on-electoral-register

Forms applying for postal votes should be received at your local Voter Registration Office 11 days before the election date.
This should give most people plenty of time to get their postal vote application in.
However if time is short or you want to be 100% sure it arrives you can deliver it personally.
Double check on the above form but as far as I am aware Voter Registration Offices are local council offices.
This information is for Wales, Scotland and England. I’m sure those from NI can find similar.

Me either. Poor Denise!

Am I Registered To Vote? How To Register For The General Election 2019

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/am-i-registered-to-vote-voter-registrationukk5937f37de4b0ce1e7409597b?utmhppref=uk-homepage

Thanks BigChoc.

You can also register to vote even if you don't have a fixed address.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address

Apparently 300,000 people registered within 48 hours of the GE being announced - 2/3 of whom are under 34

Keep up the good work!

Well done new registrees :)

As a student, you are not supposed to double-vote, and it is a crime to do so, but there is nothing to stop you getting on National Express and making it home before the polls close. In practice, you would not be found out.

(Legal double-voting was only abolished in 1945. Before that, students at Oxford and Cambridge had their own MPs, and business-owners could potentially vote in hundreds of constituencies if they were trading in many places.)

This is why students absolutely must vote - and choose where to use their vote most effectively

Vile attitudes like this from Rod Liddle in The Spectator need to be turned into a rallying call as to why it is indeed important for the students to get out and use their vote Get the students angry about such arrogance. Get them registered in both places. Get them to vote.

This article from the rag Boris Johnson was editor.

Let's turn these words against them and use it as a rally cry to get young people to register to vote.

If they are at university they need to consider reregistering in their home towns as the election is in the holidays.

Please therefore download these images and link them on social media with this link .

https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The article can easily be fact checked but I did not want the magazine to gain any extra footfall for posting such trash.

Can't post the offending picture of the article as I've posted too many pictures in the last 24 hours but you'll see it if you click through.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/RemainInTheEuropeanUnion/permalink/2493946414213372?sfns=mo

I managed to get a couple of screenshots before the pay wall kicked in.

Seems the Liddle piece was a 'satrical' critique of the arguments over election day. Isobel Hardman not happy. Fraser Nelson seeming to want it both ways, defending and dneouncing it.

news.sky.com/story/rod-liddles-spectator-article-on-muslims-voting-attacked-by-sajid-javid-11851238