General election 2019: Sheffield residents have less than two weeks left to register to vote

The general election on December 12 will be the third time Britain has gone to the polls in five years, following elections in 2015 and 2017.

And here is everything you need to know about how to register to vote with Sheffield City Council, and casting your vote, as the election fast approaches.

When is the deadline for registering to vote in the general election?

The deadline to register to vote in the General Election is midnight on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

Do I need to register again if I have already registered?

Advice issued by Sheffield City Council (SCC) states that if you have already registered, you do not need to register again for the general election. However, you might need to register again if you have changed address or have recently turned 18.

Can students vote at their university address?

SCC says students can choose to register at both their term-time and home addresses (as long as these are in different constituencies) but can only vote in one place.

Students are encouraged to double-check they are registered to vote at the address where they would like to vote on December 12.

Do I have to vote in person?

You can vote in person, by post or you can have someone else vote on your behalf (voting by proxy).

You can do this in any type of election, whether it is a general election, a local council election, a European parliament election or a referendum.

How can I vote by post?

If you would prefer to return your ballot paper by post rather than going to the polling station you must apply to Sheffield City Council for a postal vote.

You can apply to vote by post: for a single election on a specific date; permanently; or for a specific period.

To apply you need to download and print the postal registration form, which you can access by clicking here.

You need to complete the form and sign it.

You can then either:

- Email a scanned copy to: [email protected] The deadline for this is 5pm on Tuesday, November 26

- Post the completed form as soon as possible to:

Electoral Services, Town Hall, Pinstone Street, Sheffield, S1 2HH

When you have received your postal vote, if you are too late to send in your ballot paper you can always take it to your local polling station to vote in person.

If you damage or lose your ballot paper, you can remedy this by taking the spoiled ballot paper, if you have it, and the rest of the pack that was sent to you to your local polling station where you can receive a replacement ballot paper up until 5pm on election day.

How can I vote by proxy?

If you want someone to vote on your behalf you can choose to vote by proxy.

SCC says that anyone over the age of 18 can be appointed as your proxy, as long as they are eligible to vote in the election and are willing to vote on your behalf.

Your proxy must be able to vote for you at your specified polling station. If this is not possible they may want to apply to vote for you by post.

If you are unable to cast your vote in person, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote up to 5pm on polling day. You should contact Sheffield City Council on 0114 273 4093 in this case.

How will I receive my polling card?

Sheffield City Council will send you a poll card in the post that tells you about how to vote, including which polling station you are registered to vote at and the opening hours.

You do not have to take your poll card with you to the polling station.

What will I need to do when I get to the polling station?

Give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive. You do not need to take your polling card with you.

You will be given a ballot paper containing a list of the people, parties or the options you can vote for.

If you need any help with the voting process on the day, ask a member of staff at the polling station and they will help you as much as possible.