This isn't a question we can answer for you, as it is a very personal decision. We know it's complicated and we know it's confusing. 

You can check out the quiz on ISideWith to see which political parties and ideologies match your personal beliefs.

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DID YOU KNOW: Students make up 10% of the voting population, meaning your collective voice can make a huge difference - but only if you are registered to vote and vote on the day.

Registering to vote takes 5 minutes, and once you are registered it means you can vote in any UK election or referendum that you are eligible to vote in. You will be asked to provide your name, your date of birth, your nationality and your National Insurance number.

If you do not know your National Insurance number, you can get assistance in finding it here.

You are eligible to vote in the UK General Election if you meet the following criteria: 

• You must be registered to vote

• You must be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)

• You must be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen

• You must be resident at an address in the UK or living abroad and registered as an overseas voter

• You must not be legally excluded from voting

As students, you probably split your time between your term-time address and your home address, so it's important that you are registered at both. For some elections, you may be able to vote in both locations. 

For a General Elections, it is illegal to vote in two places. So you must choose which area you want to vote in for the General Election.

You have to register to vote every time you change address. We know students move a lot, so it’s important to double check you are registered to vote. You also need to register again if you have changed your name or nationality.

If you're not able to make it to the polling station on the day, you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote (when someone you trust votes on your behalf).

Some international students can vote in the General Election too! If you are studying in the UK at the time of the General Election, you may be eligible to register to vote.

There are different rules on whether you can vote depending on your nationality in different UK elections. Use this tool to find out which elections you can vote in: https://canivote.org.uk/

You can also visit the Electoral Commission website - this explains who is eligible to vote in each of the different types of election as the list of who is eligible varies depending on the type of election, and what part of the UK you are in (For Portsmouth, we are included under ‘England’). 

For more in-depth information about the different types of elections and referendums that happen in the UK, see the gov.uk website. 

The Basics

• The UK is divided into 650 areas called constituencies.

• Each constituency elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to represent them in the House of Commons.

• On election day, voters in each constituency choose which candidate they want to be their MP.

• The candidate with the most votes in a constituency becomes the MP for that area.

Winning the Election

• To form a government, a political party needs to win at least 326 seats (half of the total plus one).

• This is called an "overall majority", and the leader of that party becomes the Prime Minister.

Hung Parliament

If no party wins an overall majority, it's called a "hung parliament". In this case, there are two main options:

• Coalition Government:
  The larger parties can join forces with other parties to reach the 326 seats needed.
  This is called a "coalition government", where multiple parties share power.

• Minority Government:
  The party with the most seats (but not a majority) can try to govern alone as a "minority government".
  They would need to negotiate support from other parties on an issue-by-issue basis to pass laws.
  If they can't get enough support, they risk being defeated in the House of Commons.

New Election

If neither a coalition nor a minority government is possible, a new general election may be called.

The key points are that a party needs 326 seats for a majority, a hung parliament leads to either a coalition or minority government, and failing that, a new election is required.

The next UK General Election will be held on Thursday 4 July 2024.

The deadline to register to vote in a UK election is usually 12 working days before polling day. You have until June 18 to register to vote, or June 19 if you want to vote by post. You have until June 26 to apply for a proxy vote. 

Before the election date, you’ll be sent a poll card. On the card, it will tell you when to vote and at which polling station. You can only vote at the polling station location on your card. You do not have to take your poll card with you, but due to recent law changes in the UK, you will need a form of photo ID. 

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on the day of an election.

You’ll need a photo ID to vote - check out what you can use as photo ID here. 

NUS has teamed up with CitizenCard to offer a FREE Voter ID (usually £18) to any student or young person who needs it. Sign up for your FREE CitizenCard here.

Voting in the General Election, not just as a student but as a citizen is important because it allows you to have a voice in shaping your future, exercise your democratic rights, gain valuable experience, drive change on important issues, and counter the underrepresentation of young people in the political process. 

• By voting, you can elect a representative who will advocate for issues that matter to you. This might include education funding, student loans, job opportunities, and policies that affect your future. Voting ensures that your concerns and interests are represented in the government.

• The decisions made by the elected government will have a significant impact on the lives of students and the society you will inherit. Voting means students have a say in the direction of the country and the policies that will shape your future.

• Voting is a fundamental democratic right, and by participating in elections, you can actively engage in the democratic process and contribute to the functioning of a healthy democracy.

• Voting provides valuable experience with the democratic process, which can encourage lifelong civic engagement and informed decision-making.

• Student votes can influence the outcome of elections, especially in close races. By turning out in large numbers, students can collectively drive positive change on issues that matter to them and hold elected officials accountable.

• Young people and students are often underrepresented in elections due to lower voter turnout. By voting, you can challenge this trend and ensure that your voice is heard and your interests are considered in policy making.

And hey, if that isn’t enough to convince you, being registered to vote could improve your credit score, as banks and other lenders often use the Electoral Roll to help verify your identity. This could help when it comes to things like taking out a mobile phone contract, especially if you do not have a long credit history. It could also help if you’re looking to buy a car, rent, or even secure a mortgage.