If you are not on the electoral register before then, you won’t count when changes are made to election boundaries in 2016. If you, or your family or friends aren’t on the register by then, when you do get organised to get on the register to vote, your vote will have less value than it should.
So, what’s going on? And why do you need to act this week?
The new system of Individual Electoral Registration (IER) changes how you register to vote. In the past, electoral registration was the responsibility of ‘the householder.’
But, things have changed. Now, you need to register yourself. The problem is that the Conservative government have rushed these changes through and have not properly informed voters. They think it is in their interests not to have a comprehensive electoral register. As a result, up to a million people may not have even realised what they have to do.
Young people and students are amongst the groups worst affected, alongside people who live in private rented accommodation, those who move frequently.
We can’t sit by and watch this many people lose the right to vote. That’s why this week is crucial. We must do everything we can before the deadline to make sure that everyone who wants to vote in future elections can.
If you are not on the register, you not only lose the right to vote. You may also find that you are denied access to a range of services or products that most people take for granted. Not being on the register will almost certainly stop you opening a bank account or getting a mortgage, credit or a loan, except at an extortionate rate.
So, you have to act this week to ensure you get counted on the 1st December electoral register.
And, it’s not just you. Please spread the word. Ensure your family and friends know just how important this is.
It's actually really easy to register, just visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and in three minutes it will all be done.
