Can international students vote in the UK general election?
The general election is next month, but can everyone in the UK vote? As an international student, you might be wondering if you’re eligible to vote. This guide provides all the details you need to determine whether you can vote, how to register to vote, and the deadlines you need to be aware of.
Grace McCabe
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The UK is holding a general election on Thursday 4 July 2024. This election allows voters to choose their local Member of Parliament (MP), who will represent their area in the House of Commons. The party with the most MPs will form the government, and its leader will become the country’s prime minister.
Voters will be able to choose from several major parties including Labour, the Conservatives, Reform UK, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, while the SNP and Plaid Cymru will only be contesting seats in Scotland and Wales, respectively.
As an international student, if you meet certain criteria, you are eligible to vote.
Who can vote in the UK general election?
To vote in the general election, international students must meet the following criteria:
Must be 18 years or older on polling day.
Must be one of the following:
A British citizen
A citizen of the Republic of Ireland
A qualifying Commonwealth citizen (listed below)
Must be resident at an address in the UK.
Most European Union citizens are not eligible to vote in UK general elections. However, citizens of Cyprus, Malta, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands can vote if they live in the UK.
Commonwealth countries and British territories
A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is someone from a country or territory that is part of the Commonwealth and meets the residency requirements. Students from British overseas territories are also eligible to vote. A list of qualifying citizens can be found below:
Source: UKCISA – international student advice and guidance
The National Union of Students has also created a form that students can fill out to find out if they are eligible to vote.
How to register to vote as a student
To vote in the election, you must be registered to vote by 18 June. Here’s how to register:
Online registration: Visit the Electoral Commission website to register. This is the quickest and easiest method.
Postal registration: Apply separately if you wish to vote by post by 19 June.
Proxy voting: Apply separately if you want someone else to vote on your behalf by 26 June.
How to vote
Once registered, you can cast your vote in one of three ways (remember that you can only vote once):
In person at a polling station: You will receive a polling card with your local polling station’s details. Bring photo ID (such as biometric residence permit or passport) to vote.
By post
By proxy
In England, Scotland and Wales, voters must show photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate at polling stations for some elections. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for the parliamentary general election is 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.
Important deadlines
Register to vote: by 11.59pm on 18 June.
Apply for a postal vote: by 5pm on 19 June.
Apply for a proxy vote: by 5pm on 26 June.
Apply for Voter Authority Certificate: by 5pm on 26 June.
What happens on polling day?
Before the day you will receive a polling card in the post, identifying where your nearest polling station is located. This is the only polling station that at which you will be able to vote, because you will have been registered there.
Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.
Bring valid photo ID to the polling station.
You will vote for your local MP, not directly for the prime minister.
When you arrive at a polling station to vote, you’ll be registered and provided with a ballot paper with the names of local MP candidates. You'll then be shown to a private voting area, often a booth separated by partitions or a curtain, where you can mark your choice on the ballot paper. You will be provided with a pen or a pencil.
Once you’ve made your choice, you’ll deposit your completed ballot into a secure box. Staff will be available at the polling station to help if needed.
After you vote
After casting your vote, you can follow the election results live through various media channels. The Electoral Commission will publish the national and local election results.
In the “first past the post” system, the party/candidate with the most votes will win. The leader of the winning party will be asked to form a government by the King. In a “hung parliament,” no party has a majority, leading to coalition governments or minority rule with support from smaller parties.
The new parliament will convene on 9 July for the speaker’s election and members’ swearing-in. The state opening of Parliament occurs on 17 July, featuring the King’s Speech outlining the government’s plans.
For more information and help, check out these sources:
As an international student, your vote matters. If you are eligible, ensure you are registered and take part in the upcoming election to make your voice heard in the UK’s democratic process.
General election FAQs
Q: How do I register to vote for the general election on 4 July?
A: Register online by midnight on 18 June, providing your personal details and National Insurance number.
Q: Can I register to vote at two addresses?
A: Yes, students can register at both their term-time and home addresses. However, you can only vote once, at one of those addresses.
Q: Will I need photo ID to vote?
A: Yes, voters need to show accepted photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. This is the first general election requiring photo ID to vote.
Q: Does student ID count as voter ID?
A: No, student ID cards issued by universities or colleges are not accepted as valid voter ID.
Q: How old do I have to be to vote?
A: You must be 18 or over on polling day. In England and Northern Ireland, you can register from 16; in Wales and Scotland, from 14.
Q: Can international students vote?
A: Some international students, including British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK, are eligible to vote.
Q: What if I’m away from home on polling day?
A: Apply for a postal or proxy vote by the respective deadlines: 19 June for postal, 26 June for proxy.
This guide is based on information from two key sources dedicated to supporting and advising students in the UK. The National Union of Students UK (NUS) and The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA). For more detailed information, visit NUS and UKCISA.
Information was correct at the time of publication.
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