Register to Vote, Your Voice Matters
This year is important for local and national political change, so it is more important than ever to get registered and vote in upcoming elections. Your voice matters, it’s time to use it!
Follow this link, and register to vote, it only takes 5 minutes.
The deadline to register to be able to vote in the North East Mayor election is 16 April.
Here are the upcoming elections:
- North-East Mayor Election on 2 May 2024.
- General election date to be confirmed but will be before 28 January 2025.
Register to Vote
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register at more than one address?
Yes, you can! You can register at several addresses by filling out the form multiple times. When an election is announced you can then decide which address to vote from.
I’ve registered to vote before, do I need to do it again?
You need to register to vote again if you have change address or any personal details.
I think I might have already registered to vote but I’m not sure.
You can check whether you’re already registered by contacting your local Electoral Registration Office
Do I need my National Insurance number?
You will be asked for your national insurance number, but you don’t need it to register.
Who can register to vote?
- People aged 16 and over
- British citizens
- Irish or EU citizens living in the UK
- Commonwealth citizens with permission to stay in the UK or who do not need permission.
- Citizens of other countries living in Scotland or Wales with permission to stay in the UK or who do not need permission.
Who can vote in general elections?
To vote in a general election you must be:
- Registered to vote.
- Over the age of 18
- A British or Irish citizen or a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to stay in the UK or who does not need permission.
- A resident at a UK address
Who can vote in local elections?
To vote in local elections you must be:
- Registered to vote at an address in the area you want to vote in.
- Over the age of 18.
- A British Citizen
- An Irish or EU citizen
- A Commonwealth citizen who has permission to stay in the UK or who does not need permission
- A citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales with permission to stay in the UK or who do not need permission
Can I vote in more than one election?
If you live in two local authorities, you may be able to vote in local elections for both areas. You must register to vote in both locations and the Electoral Registration Offices will let you know if you can vote in both areas.
What are the ways of voting?
Voting by post
If you want to vote by post you must apply for a postal vote.
Voting in person
You will be sent a poll card before an election informing you of when to vote and at which polling station. When the voting period opens you can then attend the polling station and place your vote in person.
If you have a disability and want to vote in person, you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office to get accessibility information regarding the polling station.
Voting by proxy
If you can’t vote in person, you can ask someone to vote on your behalf.
How do I find my polling station?
If you would like to vote in person, you can find your polling station by entering your postcode to this site: Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?Do I need photo ID to be able to vote?
Yes, you will need photo ID to vote in person. Accepted forms of ID include driving licences and passports. Find the full list of accepted ID here.
The National Union of Students has partnered with CitizenCard to offer free voter ID. Apply for free using the code NUS.
North East Mayoral Election
Following the signing of the North East Devolution Deal, a new North East Combined Authority will be formed with the Mayor of the region being elected in May 2024. The deal will allow access to £4.2 billion over 30 years as well as additional powers being transferred to the region.
Find out more about the devolution deal here: North East devolution deal - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What is the North-East Mayor Election?
- In this election, a mayor for the newly formed North-East combined authority will be elected.
- The combined authority includes County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
- The successful candidate will become the elected leader of the region and will serve a four-year term, working alongside representatives from each of the local authorities.
When is the election?
The election will be held on 2 May 2024.
The deadline to register to vote for this election is 16 April 2024.
How could this impact Durham students?
- The Devolution Deal will allow the North East Combined Authority to have more control over funding for the area and take more major decisions.
- The new North East Mayor and combined authority board members (representatives from each of the local authorities) will have increased powers over the following areas, all of which could impact the lives of Durham students:
- Transport
- Adult skills and education
- Housing
- Economic Development
Who can vote in local elections?
To vote in local elections you must be:
- Registered to vote at an address in the area you want to vote in.
- Over the age of 18.
- A British Citizen
- An Irish or EU citizen
- A Commonwealth citizen who has permission to stay in the UK or who does not need permission
- A citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales with permission to stay in the UK or who do not need permission
North East Mayor Candidates
Please note: All candidates were contacted to request content.
It is important to be informed before you vote. Have a look at each of the mayoral candidates, their manifesto and aims and think about who you’ll be voting for on 2 May!
For further information go to: Mayor of North East Combined Authority: The 6 candidates in North East Combined Authority (whocanivotefor.co.uk)
North East Mayor Hustings
In collaboration with Newcastle University Students’ Union, University of Sunderland Students’ Union and Northumbria Students’ Union, Durham SU has organised a North East Mayor hustings!
Hear from the six mayoral candidates on why students should vote for them. The candidates will be asked questions on topics such as housing, transport and cost of living, all of which are included in the North East Mayor Students’ Unions Manifesto. There will also be the opportunity to ask the candidates questions.
The hustings will take place on 23 April, 18:00-20:00 at Northumbria University Students’ Union. Get your free ticket here: North East Mayor Higher Education Debate | Northumbria Students' Union (mynsu.co.uk)
During the hustings, there will be an opportunity to ask candidates questions. You can either do so by attending the event or submit a question via this form: https://forms.office.com/e/MiwGxbN2SG
General Election
What is the General Election?
The general election is when voters cast their votes to elect Members of Parliament to the House of Commons. This person will represent their local area for up to five years.
When is the election?
The date of the next general election has not been announced. The prime minister can call the next general election between now and 17 December 2024. The latest potential date for the next general election is 28 January 2025.
How could this impact Durham students?
Voting in a general election means you get to decide who makes the decisions about issues you care about. By voting you can support a candidate who will represent your views in parliament and work on policies that matter to you. This is your chance to influence national politics.
Who can vote in this election?
To vote in a general election you must be:
- Registered to vote.
- Over the age of 18
- A British or Irish citizen or a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to stay in the UK or who does not need permission.
- A resident at a UK address
Resources
Resources
- Find more information on registering to vote here
- Register to vote information from the Electoral Commission - Register to vote | Electoral Commission
- Find out more about who can register to vote including a full list of commonwealth and EU countries here
- Find information on how to access your free CitizenCard through NUS here
- Find a polling station near you: Find your polling station | Where Do I Vote?
- Find out more about the North East Combined Authority here
- Find out more about the North-East Devolution Deal here
- Palatinate article on mayoral elections - North East mayoral elections: register to vote and save the date! – Palatinate
- Information on the mayoral candidates - Mayor of North East Combined Authority: The 6 candidates in North East Combined Authority (whocanivotefor.co.uk)
- Find out more about general elections here
- Find out more about the next general election here
