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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

You have just hours left to register to vote in the 2019 General Election

There are now just a matter of hours left to make sure you are registered to vote in next month's General Election.

It is thought that there are still millions of people who haven't registered to take part in what is being seen as the most important election in the UK in a generation.

And for those who still haven't signed up, the deadline is at midnight today.

Or for those signing up for a postal vote its 5pm.

Around 45.8m people were already registered to vote in UK Parliamentary elections as of December last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.

And more than 2.8m have applied to join them on the register since MPs agreed to hold an election at the end of October.

But there are still many more who are currently unable to take up their democratic right to vote for who they want to be in power in the UK on December 13.

Today's deadline of 5pm is for registration for voting in person and for voting by post.

This could affect a number of Liverpool fans who may be travelling back from the Reds' tie with Salzburg in Austria around the time of the election and may need to vote by post.

With just hours to go to register, here is everything you need to go to make sure you can play your part.

How to register to vote in a general election

You need to be on the electoral register to be able to vote in elections and referendums.

If you move home, change your name or get a new nationality, you'll need to register again.

Most voting takes place in person, so if you think you might be away from home on the day of a general election, you can register for a postal vote.

The government has an online application form for vote registration here .

You can also register by post here .

What you need to register to vote

You'll need your National Insurance number (you can find this on your payslip or any official letters about tax, pensions or benefits) and your passport if you're a British citizen living abroad.

How students can register to vote

If you're a student, you may be able to vote at either your home or term-time addresses.

The vote will take place in December (PA)

You can check if you're registered by contacting your local registration office here .

It's important to note you can only vote at one address - voting more than once in the same election is illegal.

How to protect your data when registering to vote

Some people may be worried about being on a public electoral register - anyone can buy a copy.

If you are concerned about your safety, you can register anonymously here .

If you don't mind being listed but you don't want to be included in the 'open' register available for purchase, you can opt out here .

How students can register to vote

If you're a student, you may be able to vote both at your home and term-time addresses. You can check if you're registered by contacting your local registration office here . However, you can only vote at one address - voting more than once in the same election is illegal.

Postal vote

As mentioned earlier, a postal vote could be an important way for many travelling Liverpool fans to ensure they don't miss out on the chance to have their say in this election.

It is easy to do via a form that can be found here .

You must return your postal vote application form by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll for it to be valid.

Proxy vote

Another way for people who are unable to vote to take part is by proxy.

This means you can get someone else to vote in your place.

You can only apply for a proxy vote under certain circumstances, including:

  • being away on polling day
  • having a medical issue or disability
  • not being able to vote in person because of work or military service

Apply for a proxy vote  using a paper form. You need to send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.

Usually, you need to apply for a proxy vote at least 6 working days before election day if you want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales.

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