Less than one week left to register to vote in the General Election - say the Electoral Commission
“With an election looming, it's extremely important Gypsy and Traveller people exercise their democratic rights at the ballot box," says Emma Nuttall from Friends, Families and Travellers
There is less than one week left to register to vote ahead of the UK general election. The Electoral Commission, an independent and impartial organisation, is encouraging Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to register before the deadline of midnight on Tuesday 18th June.
Registering to vote is free and only takes a few minutes. Anyone not already registered, or that has changed name or address, can register to vote online or by completing a paper application form.
Anyone that has a permanent address or has been staying at a site for a substantive amount of time, can register to vote using that address. Anyone who does not have a fixed or permanent address, can still register to vote by filling in this form, giving details of where they spend most of their time.
Speaking ahead of the election, Craig Westwood, Director of Communication at the Electoral Commission said: “Registering to vote is a crucial step for anyone that wants to be able to cast a vote and have their say at the general elections. Time is of the essence as the deadline to register is midnight on Tuesday 18th June. It is not essential to have a fixed address to register, and there is support available from the Commission and local councils for anyone that has questions about the process or requires help.”
The Commission is working with organisations, including Friends, Families and Travellers to support voter registration and engagement in the community.
Emma Nuttall, Policy Manager at Friends, Families and Travellers, said: "We’re pleased to have worked together with the Electoral Commission to encourage more and more Gypsy and Traveller people to register to vote.
“With an election looming, it's extremely important Gypsy and Traveller people exercise their democratic rights at the ballot box."
Anyone voting at a polling station will also need to bring an accepted form of ID. Accepted forms include a passport, driving licence, and a Blue Badge. A free ID, known as the Voter Authority Certificate, is available for those who do not have another form of ID.
Voters that would prefer not to attend a polling station, have the option to vote by post or proxy. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on the 19th June, and the deadline for proxy vote applications is 5pm on the 26th June.
Anyone needing assistance with registering to vote, or applying for the Voter Authority Certificate, can contact their local council. Contact details can be found by searching a post code. You can also call the Electoral Commission’s freephone information line on 0800 328 0280.
Electoral Commission press release/TT News
(Photograph: Stock photo – Appleby 2024 © Eszter Halasi)