Voting as a Student in The May 2024 Local and Mayoral Elections

Local elections and mayoral elections are taking place across England on Thursday 2 May 2024.   

Anyone voting in Manchester will have the opportunity to have their say in two important sets of elections: 

1. A vote for who should represent the local area on the council 

2. A vote to choose who should be elected as Mayor of Greater Manchester 

To be able to vote, you will need to be registered and bring an appropriate photo ID to the polling station. Follow our handy guide below which outlines the steps you need to take to be ready to vote on May 2. 

How do I check if I am registered to vote? 

If you’re not sure if you are registered to vote in the local elections, you will need to contact the electoral services unit at the local council. 

If you’re registered to vote, you’ll be on the electoral register. This is something that your local council holds, so they’ll be able to tell you if you’re registered. 

The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 16 April 2024. You can register to vote here.  

Where do I vote?   

If you are registered at both your home and your term-time addresses, it doesn’t necessarily mean you get two votes. You will need to choose one address and vote in that area only.  

You can only vote at your allocated polling station – check where your polling station is. Details will also be on your poll card(s), which you’ll receive by post a few weeks before polling day.  

What happens at the polling station?  

Polling station staff are there to help and will check your ID sensitively.   

When you arrive, a staff member will:   

1. Ask for your name and check that you are on the electoral register  

2. Ask to see your ID  

3. Check that your ID looks like you  

4. Cross your name off the register, give you your ballot paper and direct you to a polling booth  

Polling stations will have a private area where you can choose to show your photo ID, if you prefer.  

Accepted forms of photo ID  

Like last year, you will need to show photo ID at polling stations to receive your ballot paper. You only need to show one form of photo ID, but it must be the original version and not a photocopy.   

Accepted forms of photo ID:  

• Passport   

• Driving licence   

• A Blue Badge  

• Disabled Person’s Bus Pass   

• A PASS card (identity card with the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram)  

• Voter Authority Certificate  

• Anonymous Elector’s Document  

An expired photo ID will be accepted if the photo is a good enough likeness to identify you. The name on it should be the same name you used to register to vote.   

If you don’t have a photo ID, you can show a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply for one is 5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024.   

Transgender or non-binary support  

You don’t need to show photo ID that includes a gender marker. If you don’t have photo ID, you feel worried about using an existing form of ID which has a gender marker, or you’re not sure whether you still look like the photo on your ID, you can use a Voter Authority Certificate which will not have a gender marker.  

If your name, appearance, or gender appear differently to the photo ID you use, this could potentially prevent you from being given a ballot paper.