I'm a student, how and where do I register and where can I vote?

Why should I register to vote?
It is important that you are registered to vote for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it is a legal requirement and you could be eligible for a fine of up to £1000 if you are not.

Secondly, by being on the Electoral Roll you will be automatically registered to vote in elections and referendums.

Thirdly, if you ever require a credit check your details will be verified against those held for you on the Electoral Roll.


Eligibility
Firstly, check out our guidance on eligibility to see if you are eligible to vote in elections and referendums in the UK.

Registering
As a student you can register at both your home and term-time address.

There are two ways that you can register to vote. Firstly, you can register during the Annual Canvass, which takes place between August and November every year. If you are living in a University of Northampton Halls of Residence, you will be registered automatically and do not need to do anything. If you are living in a private property, a form will be delivered between August and October to your house. One person should complete this form on behalf of all the other residents, ensuring that they check the details with everyone before they return it.

If you have not received a form, check with your landlord if they have it. The landlord should not complete the form on your behalf. If you want to check if you are on the register or to request a form if you have not received one you may call Electoral Services on 01604 837111.

Alternatively, if you arrive at university after 1 December, you can register using the second method of registration, known as rolling registration. A rolling registration form can be downloaded from our website. We will then send you another form to complete to confirm your details.

Voting

If you are registered both at home and at university, you can vote in local government elections at home and at your term-time address, as long as they are not in the same local government area.
However, when it comes to voting at a UK Parliamentary, Scottish Parliamentary, National Assembly for Wales or European Parliamentary election you cannot vote twice.
For more general information about registering and forthcoming elections visit forms.westnorthants.gov.uk/registration