Local Elections: Register to Vote

If you’re not already aware, voters across England get the chance to elect their local councillors on Thursday 6 May.

The elections will decide who runs local services - such as schools, libraries and bin collections - across 143 councils.

Unlike General Elections, students are able to vote TWICE in local elections – once in the area where you live outside of term time and once where you are located to study.

So if you are studying at Royal Holloway and live within the Runnymede borough, you’ll be eligible to vote, as long as you’re on the electoral register.

The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 19 April 2021. If you registered to vote by the deadline, you should receive your poll card by Monday 3 May 2021.

Register to vote

Why is it important to vote?

Just being registered to vote gives you power; it gives you influence and a stake in society. When politicians make decisions, they look at who is on the electoral register and who votes. And what do they see? As it stands, only one-third of young people aged 18-34 are registered, compared to 96% of older people. It’s time to change these numbers!

What are Runnymede Council responsible for?

A wide range of statutory services, including:

• Refuse and recycling
• Licensing pubs, clubs and taxis
• Environmental health and food hygiene ratings
• Maintaining local parks and open spaces
• Running CCTV networks

Find out more

How do I check if I’m registered to vote?

Simply contact your local electoral registration office:

Runnymede Borough Council
Electoral Registration Officer
Civic Centre
Station Road
Addlestone
KT15 2AH

01932 425653

Email

Website

Where do I vote?

The location of polling stations will be on polling cards sent to people who are on the electoral register.

If you live in halls of residence, your polling station is located in the Students' Union Building and will be open from 7am until 10pm.

Otherwise, hit the link below and enter your postcode to find out where your polling station is.

Find my polling station

COVID-19 secure polling stations and other ways to vote

 To keep yourself and others safe on polling day, please:

• wear a face covering (over your mouth and nose) inside the polling station
• sanitise your hands using the hand sanitiser provided
• maintain and follow the social distancing instructions at all times
• bring your own pen or pencil to mark your ballot paper, if possible

I’m going to be away – can I still vote?

Yes! If you’re not about, on holiday or too busy revising for exams on the day of the vote, you can also register for a proxy vote or a postal vote.

Postal votes

The deadline to register to vote by post is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021.

Proxy votes

The deadline to register to vote by proxy is 5pm on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

If you wish to apply for a postal vote, we urge you to apply well in advance of the application deadline and then complete and return your vote as early as possible.

Find out more about how to register for postal or proxy votes.