It’s vital that LGBTQIA people (and our allies) make our voices heard on voting day
BY NIC CROSARA, IMAGE VIA PEXELS
On 22 May Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a shock July election. The election date (4 July 2024) is earlier than many anticipated. The Prime Minister had previously indicated an autumn election, with the latest possible date being 28 January 2025.
Now, this summer, adults across the UK will be able to choose someone to be the Member of Parliament (MP) for their local area. The elected MPs will then go on to represent the area (known as a constituency) in the UK Parliament in London.
At the time of writing, there are multiple humanitarian crises taking place around the globe. And here in the UK, we’re facing a range of issues from the cost of living crisis to a lack of funding for our NHS. LGBTQIA people are still having to fight for equality when it comes to starting a family through IVF. Waiting lists for receiving trans healthcare remain unethically long. LGBTQIA hate crime is on the rise, especially anti-trans attacks. And recently, in a move that has similarities to the horrors of Section 28, new government guidance banned teaching the “concept of gender identity” to children under nine.
It is such a vital time for our community (and our allies) to have our voices heard through our vote. In the coming weeks, we’ll be taking a look at the voting habits of MPs across various parties and where each part stands on queer and trans rights.
But for now, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about how people vote and what happens on voting day.
Who is allowed to vote in a general election?
- All people in the UK can vote in the general elections when they turn 18
- For the election taking place on 4 July 2024, people need to have registered to vote before 18 June. You can register here.
- The Electoral Commission states that only British citizens, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen and/or a Republic of Ireland citizen with a UK address can vote.
- As long as they are not legally excluded from voting, British citizens who live abroad can also register to vote.
How do you vote?
There are three different ways that you can vote: in a polling station, by post or by nominating someone to vote for you (this is known as voting by proxy).
You may only vote for one candidate, if you choose more than one candidate on your ballot paper, then your vote will not be counted. Similarly, if you leave your ballot blank, or if who you have voted for is unclear, then your ballot paper will not be counter either.
Deadlines you need to know about
- If you are not already registered to vote, you’ll need to do so by 11:59 pm on Tuesday 18 June.
- For those who don’t have a valid form of voter ID, you’ll need to apply for a voter ID which needs to be done by Wednesday 26 June at 5 pm.
- For those opting for a postal vote, you need to apply by Wednesday 19 June at 5 pm.
- The deadline for applying for a proxy vote, both you and the person voting on your behalf need to apply by 5 pm on Wednesday 26 June.
What is a polling station? And what happens once you’re inside?
A polling station is the most popular way to vote, and they will only be open on voting day. The address of your polling station should be printed on your polling card. This will be delivered to you before the election. If you don’t have your poll card then you must contact your local council.
Once inside, you must show them a valid form of photo ID, such as a passport or driving license. You’ll then be given a ballot paper on which you’ll mark the candidate you are voting for. The vote must be done in a private booth. Your vote is yours and you mustn’t tell anyone who you vote for. You are also not allowed to take photos of your ballot paper.
On your ballot paper, you’ll see a grid of names and you’ll need to mark who you want to win clearly. This is normally done by marking a cross with a pen or pencil in a box next to the person you wish to vote for.
You then put your ballot paper into a big sealed ballot box. It will have a hole in the top to allow you to submit your vote without seeing anyone else’s votes. This is where all the votes are collected from before they go off to be counted.
What do you need to know about a postal vote?
When you register to vote, you can opt to do so by a postal vote. If you do, before the general election, you’ll receive a letter with a ballot paper in. You’ll need to ensure you make your choice and send off your ballot paper by post by the previously mentioned deadline.
Here’s what you need to know about voting by proxy
If you’d like to opt for someone to go and vote on your behalf, then this is known as voting by proxy.
In order to do so you have to register beforehand and decide who you want to do your vote. You then tell them who you want to vote for and they go along to the polling station on your behalf.
How are votes counted and what happens on election day?
A team of counters gather all the ballot papers in a count centre. Votes won’t start being counted until the voting deadline has ended. Counting usually starts right away and can take all night. Once all votes have been counted, the total number of votes and results are announced.
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