Broadcast: News items

Local and mayoral elections are happening on Thursday 7 May. There are no elections taking place in Brighton & Hove, however, many other areas across England, Scotland and Wales are holding elections on this date. If you live outside Brighton & Hove, it is important to check whether your address falls within an area that is voting this year.

Do you have an election in your area?

You can quickly check by entering your postcode on the Electoral Commission’s “Your Election Information” tool.

Who is eligible to vote?

To register to vote, you must be aged 16 or over (but you cannot vote until you are 18 years old), and one of the following:

• a UK or Irish citizen
• a qualifying Commonwealth citizen living in the UK
• a qualifying EU citizen living in the UK

Key deadlines to be aware of

• Register to vote
  Register online by 11:59pm on Monday 20 April.
  
  
• Postal voting
  Apply by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April.
  
  
• Proxy voting
  Apply by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.
  
  
• Photo ID: what you need to bring
  If you are voting in person, you must show an accepted form of photo ID. If you don’t have an accepted ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.
  Apply by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.
  
  
• Polling day: Thursday 7 May
  Polling stations are open 7am-10pm. If you are in the queue by 10pm, you can still vote.

Remember, even though Brighton & Hove has no elections this year, many Sussex students live in other areas where elections may be taking place. Check your postcode and make sure you are ready to vote if your area is participating.

Advice and guidance during election period

The University of Sussex is subject to the requirements of the Electoral Commission during an election period. This means that we have a legal obligation to comply with specific rules about how we engage with politicians and parties and that these should be followed during the pre-election period – the timeframe where individuals and parties will be campaigning to be elected to office.

Sussex is politically impartial and should be seen to be independent from party politics. The University also recognises that academics and staff may wish to comment on or critique policy positions espoused by political candidates and parties during the pre-election period. The University is fully committed to the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech and expression, which are protected in law and are fundamental to the University’s values.

Please see our detailed guide which aims to help staff and students who may wish to undertake certain activities during the election period.