On Thursday 2 May, there’s going to be an election to choose the next Mayor of London, as well as members of the London Assembly.
If you’re over the age of 18, and either British, Irish, or a citizen of a qualifying Commonwealth or EU country, you are eligible to vote in this election. But you need to register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 16 April to be able to do so.
On Thursday 2 May, there’s going to be an election to choose the next Mayor of London, as well as members of the London Assembly.
If you’re over the age of 18, and either British, Irish, or a citizen of a qualifying Commonwealth or EU country, you are eligible to vote in this election. But you need to register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 16 April to be able to do so.
You might think that the Mayor of London doesn’t have much relevance to your life – after all, this isn’t a Westminster election. But that’s where you’re wrong.
As the local decision makers for London, the Mayor of London and London Assembly (collectively the Greater London Authority, or GLA), have a really tangible effect on your life as a student in London.
Their remit covers things such as building planning – giving permission for new university buildings or accommodation to be built – transport, safety measures, and the local economy and labour market. All these matters affect your life in London both now and in the future, so it’s super important that the people making these decisions are ones who share your values.
The next UK general election (deciding local Members of Parliament and the government) is also due by next January, and could be called at any time. We recommend that you register to vote now so that you’re prepared to vote in this election whenever it may be.
There are other benefits to registering to vote that you might not expect. Joining the electoral roll improves your credit score, which will make future financial moves like getting a mortgage for a house much easier. A great bonus alongside empowering yourself to choose who makes the decisions impacting your life!
Registering to vote only takes five minutes, and you only need to do it once, unless you change your name, address, or nationality. Register online now.