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The Electoral Commission, the NUS, the Association of Colleges (AoC), Universities UK, The Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA) and GuildHE have joined forces to ask academic leaders at institutions across Great Britain to encourage their students to register to vote ahead of the UK General Election on 7 May.

Working together they have recently written to universities and colleges, to ask them to help ensure their students are registered by the deadline of 20 April by doing simple activities such as:

• emailing all students to let them know they can register to vote online atwww.gov.uk/register-to-vote
• holding registration drives at the beginning of seminars and classes; and
• displaying posters in college and university buildings

The Electoral Commission will be publishing the names of organisations that agree to support this work on its website.

Young people, including students, are less likely to be registered to vote than those in other age-groups. Electoral Commission research indicates that around 30% of 18-24 year olds are not registered to vote compared to less than 5% of those aged over 65.

Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said: “We want everyone, including students, to be able to have their say at the election but you can only do this if you are registered to vote. Universities, colleges and other academic institutions are in a unique position to directly contact their students as part of this voter registration drive. We hope that as many academic institutions as possible will  support our efforts to get students registered.”

Martin Doel, Chief Executive at the Association of Colleges, said: “The next Government will be making crucial decisions that will effect everyone’s future – as well as the next generation in education.  It’s important that everyone has their say at this summer’s election which is why we’d like to see colleges and other institutions to encourage their students to register to vote.”

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK said: “Universities are an integral part of society where students come together and share ideas and debate. Vice-chancellors are committed to urging students to exercise their democratic rights and with that we encourage the student population to get out and vote this May.”

Toni Pearce, NUS President, said: “NUS is committed to ensuring the seven million students we represent across the UK through our member students’ unions are able to both get on the electoral register and make their voices heard.  We're all interested in issues; from climate change to racism, from education to crime and voting is the fundamental way that we have our say on those issues. At a time when many feel that politics isn't relevant to them, we need to do everything we can to encourage young people to take part in democracy. Students hold the key to the next general election, registering to vote is a step closer to making sure they use it.”

Dr Jonathan Nicholls, Registrary, University of Cambridge and Chair, AHUA said: “The involvement of students in the democratic process is of great importance.  Politicians are unlikely to address student issues without student votes.  The student voice can make a vital difference to the shape of politics and to the issues our politicians decide to address.  The AHUA fully supports the Electoral Commission’s campaign to ensure all students are registered to vote by 20 April”.

Andy Westwood, Chief Executive, GuildHE said: "With many key issues affecting students likely to discussed by the next Government it is important that students have their say and register to vote, and that universities and colleges encourage and support them to do this."

A change to the electoral registration system in June 2014 means that everyone is now required to register to vote individually rather than this being done by a ‘head of household’ who registers all occupants at an address. This change means that universities can no longer act as the ‘head of household’ and register their students en bloc. They will now have to register themselves. However, as part of the move to individual registration, people can now register quickly and easily online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The full letter to chancellors and principals is available on the Electoral Commission’s website here (PDF)

Notes to editors

1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election finance and set standards for well-run elections and are responsible for the conduct and regulation of referendums held under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (2000). The Commission is working with a range of partners to help promote voter registration, more details on which can be found on its website here
2. The National Union of Students (NUS) is a voluntary membership organisation which makes a real difference to the lives of students and its member students' unions. We are a confederation of 600 students' unions, amounting to more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education unions in the UK. Through our member students' unions, we represent the interests of more than seven million students.
3. The Association of Heads of University Administration (AHUA) is the representative body for senior University managers (typically Registrars, Chief Operating Officers, Heads of Administration) in the UK and Ireland.  Seewww.ahua.ac.uk for further information.
4. Universities UK (UUK) is the representative organisation for the UK’s universities. Founded in 1918, its mission is to be the definitive voice for all universities in the UK, providing high quality leadership and support to its members to promote a successful and diverse higher education sector. With 133 members and offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, it promotes the strength and success of UK universities nationally and internationally. www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
5. Association of Colleges (AoC) is a not-for-profit membership organisation set up in 1996 by colleges to act as their collective voice. AoC’s membership includes 336 colleges in England, including general further education, sixth form, tertiary and land-based colleges. It supports, represents and protects the interests of its member colleges, as well as the rest of the FE sector.
6. Guild HE is GuildHE is one of the two recognised representative bodies for Higher Education in the UK.