Wednesday 12-06-2024 - 09:59

Wrexham is a key seat in the upcoming General Election, with the Conservatives gaining just a 2,131 majority in 2019’s results with a 67.4% voter turnout.

That means there were 32.6% of eligible voters who didn’t vote on the day of the Election in 2019. With students making up 10% of the voting population nationwide, your vote holds a lot more weight than you might think.

Did you know?

Only 60% of young people are registered to vote in comparison to 96% of people over the age of 65!

Make your voice powerful and take the pledge to vote. It takes less than a minute! 

Once you've pledged your vote, NUS (National Union of Students) will send you all the information you need to use your vote. 

Register to vote

It takes just 5 minutes! That’s less time than walking from one side of Wrexham’s Plas Coch Campus to the other. As a student voting in the Elections, you’re voting for your future and the future of your peers. Register to vote here.

The deadline for registering to vote in the 4^th July General Election is 11:59pm on the 18^th of June. That’s less than a week away!

Want to vote by post?

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on the 19^th of June, and you do not need to give a reason for applying unless you’re voting in Northern Ireland.

You must be registered to vote before applying for a postal vote.

You can even ask someone you trust to vote on your behalf with a proxy vote

If you’re unable to vote in person you can ask someone to vote on your behalf. This is called a proxy vote. You can apply for a proxy vote here, and the deadline to do so is 5pm on the 26^th of June.

You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, including:

• being away on polling day
• being registered as an overseas voter
• having a medical issue or disability
• not being able to vote in person because of work or military service

Your proxy should be someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You’ll need to tell them which candidate (or referendum outcome) you want to vote for.

You must be registered to vote before you apply for a proxy vote.

Free Voter ID

NUS (National Union of Students) is offering a free Voter ID to all students. When voting at a polling station, it’s now law to present photo ID. Not all students have a valid form of photo ID, and with this normally costing money, the free Voter ID (normally £18) for all students ensures that there are no financial barriers to having your say on the 4^th of July. 

Are you an international student?

At Wrexham, a high proportion our students are international students. Did you know that many international students are actually eligible to vote? Qualifying commonwealth citizens can vote if they are registered to vote and have a valid photo ID. This means that students from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and so many other countries can have their say. If you’re an international student, you can check your eligibility to vote using the quick tool on NUS’ website here: https://www.nus.org.uk/can-i-vote

Changing your address?

Each time you change your address, you must re-register to vote. You’ll vote in whatever constituency your current address is based in.

You can be registered to vote at two addresses; your term-time address and your home address, but you can only vote at one of these depending on your location at the time of the Election. As the upcoming General Election is in July, it’s likely that many students will be at their home addresses.

Check out NUS’ Turn Up Campaign page, where you can register to vote, get your free Voter ID, check out a voting FAQ for students and more. 

Written by Lauren Hole, Communications & Engagement Coordinator

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