REMINDER:
Register by 11:59pm on 18 June 2024 to vote in the General Election on 4 July 2024.
AND DON’T FORGET YOUR PHOTO ID!
Is Northstowe ready to vote in the general election?
As a rapidly growing new town, it is likely that many of us are not yet registered to vote, or do not yet have appropriate photo ID.
Research from the Electoral Commission suggests:
- 8 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they didn't register to vote in time ;
- 4 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they do not have appropriate Photo ID ;
- 14 million eligible voters may not vote at the next General Election because they are not motivated to turn out to vote on election day.
- You are at greater risk of not being able to participate in the democratic process if you are: young, a non -UK national, rent your home, have moved recently live in an economically - disadvantaged community, or are from an ethnic minority .
Source: Electoral Commission – 2023 Report: Electoral Registers in the UK
📢 Exciting news! We’ve accredited with the #VoterRegistrationChampions scheme by @CitizensUK. We’re working together to make sure 300,000 people don’t lose out on casting their vote at the next General Election. Find out more ➡️ https://www.voterchampion.org.uk/
Find out more and accredit your organisation as a #VoterRegistrationChampion with @CitizensUK today: https://www.voterchampion.org.uk/accredit/
Find out more and accredit your organisation as a #VoterRegistrationChampion with @CitizensUK today: https://www.voterchampion.org.uk/accredit/
Other helpful resources:
- Voter eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/elections-in-the-uk#content
- Voter ID: https://www.citizencard.com/apply-for-a-uk-id-card-online
- Supporting young people to engage in elections: https://www.democracyclassroom.com/
- Scheme funder: https://www.jrrt.org.uk/what-we-do/the-uk-democracy-fund/
JPIT (the Joint Public Issues Team) have compiled briefings on the six issues that they work on (read more about the JPIT Six Hopes here). This resource includes, for each of the six issues:
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a Christian grounding, explaining why we as Christians should engage with these issues
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a briefing about the current situation in the UK
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a list of three suggested questions to ask parliamentary candidates to hear what they think and what their plans are regarding these issues
- Further reading to find out more
As well as resources out at our Gatherings, you can read more on the JPIT website .
Questions for our local candidates:
We don't have a building in which to hold a hustings... but we can write and ask candidates what they think about the issues that matter to US here in Northstowe.At Pathfinder Church, Little Explorers, and Compline gatherings we're talking about the questions that we should be asking. There are some good suggestions in the JPIT resources (linked above)
Do get in touch with your input!
Pray your part
The General Election will be a moment for the nation to ask important questions about the future. Pray Your Part is an invitation from the bishops of the Church of England to encourage prayer and participation in the life of our nation and communities, both as voters and as citizens.
This 21-day journey of prayer and reflection (from Friday, 14 June until Election Day on 4 July) is designed for use in the run-up to the UK General Election. Each day explores a different theme, with a short Bible reading, reflection and prayer for a different aspect of our common life.
Read more about iton the Church of England website
Prayer on Election Night
The Compline Community invite you to join them in prayer - in person if you are able! -on 4th July, Election Night.The community normally meet for a cuppa and chat from 8pm, and then turn to prayer at 8.15pm, concluding by 9pm
Normally, they follow the ancient monastic pattern of Compline - the service of Completion at the end of the Day. This is also known as Night Prayer. On 4th July, they will draw on prayers written for Election Night, as well as praying with ancient psalms, poetic biblically inspired prayers, and silence.
The Northstowe Church Network
is now a Voter Registration Champion!
As a General Election approaches, a new initiative has been launched that will equip local churches to increase democratic participation. The Baptist Union of Great Britain, Church of Scotland, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church have been announced as ambassadors for the Voter Registration Champions initiative set up by Citizens UK – and the Northstowe Church Council voted to take up the challenge at our most recent meeting.
By choosing to register as a Voter Registration Champion organization we have committed to three actions:
By choosing to register as a Voter Registration Champion organization we have committed to three actions:
- VOTER REGISTRATION: Run an annual Voter Registration campaign that aims to ensure that 100% of your organisation’s eligible membership are registered before the deadline (with a 90% success rate).
- VOTER ID: Educate your members about the Voter ID requirements, and make sure they have the photo ID they need in order to vote before the deadline.
- VOTER TURNOUT: Remind your members about the election date, and encourage them to use their vote.
STEP ONE: Register to vote (by 11.59 pm on 18th June)
You do not need to register to vote for each election. If you have recently changed address or changed your name, you will need to make sure your details are up to date by registering to vote again.It usually takes about 5 minutes to register online. Register to vote - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You’ll be asked for your National Insurance number (but you can still register if you do not have one).
STEP TWO: Check your ID (before 5pm on Wednesday 26th June.)
The way that we vote has changed. Voters now need to show photo ID at polling stations.Check if you already have accepted photo ID. (Note, the photo on your ID must look like you)
If you don’t have suitable ID, no longer look like the photo, or the name on your photo ID is different to your name on the electoral register, you can Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’)
It’s free to apply. You’ll need a recent, digital photo of yourself and your National Insurance number. You can still apply if you do not have a National Insurance number. You’ll need to provide other documents to prove your identity, for example a birth certificate, bank statement and utility bill.
STEP THREE: Let us know you are registered… and start praying and engaging
STEP FOUR: VOTE!
visit our main website to find out more about the Northstowe Church Network
