By Bristol City Council
New and returning students in Bristol are being reminded to register to vote at their new address, so they get to have their say on decisions in the city that affect them.
In May 2021 important elections are due to take place for the Bristol City Mayor, the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset and all Bristol City councillors.
Tim O’Gara, Electoral Registration Officer at Bristol City Council said 'There are over 50,000 students in Bristol and we want them to feel a part of the City by engaging with local democracy that affects them during their time here as a student.
'Lots of students don’t know that they can register to vote in both their home town and also the place where they study, so that they can choose where to exercise their vote when an election takes place. Registration is very quick and easy yet some students, when they decide where to use their vote, realise too late that they are not registered in that location.”
Research by the Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those who have lived at the same address for a long time.
Across Great Britain, 92% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 36% of people who have lived at an address for less than one year.
'Lots of students don’t know that they can register to vote in both their home town and also the place where they study'
It is important that students, young people and recent home movers in Bristol register to vote at their new address.
Register to vote before 17 November to appear on the new published register on 1 December 2020.
To register visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Featured Image: Bristol City Council
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