Your voice is your vote – in order to dismantle systemic racism, we need to participate in democracy and elect the people who will represent us in Government.
In 2022, 28% of Black voters in Great Britain were not registered to vote. That’s a quarter of the Black population not having their voice heard. Furthermore, close to 2 million potential voters do not possess adequate photo ID to vote in the next election. This could mean 2 million voices remaining unheard.
To register to vote you have to be:
You can also check which elections you are eligible to vote in. Register by 11:59pm on 18 June 2024 to vote in the General Election on 4 July 2024.
You can vote when you are aged 18 or over, or 16 and over in certain elections in Scotland and Wales.
You only need to register once – unless you’ve changed your name, address or nationality.
From May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote in some elections. Accepted forms of ID include but are not limited to:
You need to bring the original form of ID with you, photocopies will not be accepted.
If you don’t have any of the accepted forms of ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate online. This should arrive within a month so allow enough time to apply for one.
Now you’ve registered to vote and checked you have the correct photo ID, you are able to vote in the next election. It is worth noting that you don’t need photo ID to vote by post.
You can vote in person at your local polling station, apply to vote by post or apply to vote by proxy – this is when you ask a trusted person to vote on your behalf. There are multiple ways to vote and you can find out more on the Electoral Commission website.
However, you choose to vote, ensure your voice is heard in the next election.