Is Northstowe ready to vote in local and national elections?
Our next local elections take place on May 2nd (Police and Crime Commissioner for Cambridge). There will also be a general election before 2025.
As a rapidly growing new town, it is likely that many of us are not yet registered to vote, or do not yet have appropriate photo ID.
Research from the Electoral Commission suggests:
- 8 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they didn't register to vote in time ;
- 4 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they do not have appropriate Photo ID ;
- 14 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they are not motivated to turn out to vote on election day.
- You are at greater risk of not being able to participate in the democratic process if you are: young, a non -UK national, rent your home, have moved recently live in an economically - disadvantaged community, or are from an ethnic minority .
Source: Electoral Commission – 2023 Report: Electoral Registers in the UK
The Northstowe Church Network is becoming a Voter Registration Champion
As a General Election approaches, a new initiative has been launched that will equip local churches to increase democratic participation. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church of Scotland, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church have been announced as ambassadors for the Voter Registration Champions initiative set up by Citizens UK – and the Northstowe Church Council voted to take up the challenge at our most recent meeting.
By choosing to register as a Voter Registration Champion organization we have committed to three actions:
By choosing to register as a Voter Registration Champion organization we have committed to three actions:
- VOTER REGISTRATION: Run an annual Voter Registration campaign that aims to ensure that 100% of your organisation’s eligible membership are registered before the deadline (with a 90% success rate).
- VOTER ID: Educate your members about the Voter ID requirements, and make sure they have the photo ID they need in order to vote before the deadline.
- VOTER TURNOUT: Remind your members about the election date, and encourage them to use their vote.
STEP ONE: Register to vote (before April 16th)
You do not need to register to vote for each election. If you have recently changed address or changed your name, you will need to make sure your details are up to date by registering to vote again.It usually takes about 5 minutes to register online. Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one).
STEP TWO: Check your ID (before April 24th)
The way that we vote has changed. Voters now need to show photo ID at polling stations.Check if you already have accepted photo ID. (Note, the photo on your ID must look like you)
If you don’t have suitable ID, no longer look like the photo, or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’)
It’s free to apply. You’ll need a recent, digital photo of yourself and your National Insurance number. You can still apply if you do not have a National Insurance number. You’ll need to provide other documents to prove your identity, for example a birth certificate, bank statement and utility bill.
STEP THREE: Let us know you are registered… and start praying and engaging
We’ve committed to 90% of our eligible members being registered before 16th April. So, if you are already registered, or as soon as you do, please drop us a message: we’re not going to ask who you are voting for! Email contact@northstowe.church with the subject line “I’m registered”.You can find out more about who you can vote for here: UK Elections (whocanivotefor.co.uk)
STEP FOUR: VOTE!
visit our main website to find out more about the Northstowe Church Network
