3.3 Supporting young people to register

As a teacher, you can play a powerful role in making voter registration feel straightforward, relevant, and engaging. You are a trusted source of information and have the opportunity to support individuals who have specific questions. In a school or college setting, you also will usually have access to a large group of young people. 

By offering support, you can enable many young people to register who otherwise may not. Many young people simply forget to register or assume they’re already on the list – so a timely reminder and a bit of support can make all the difference.

Here’s how you can help:

• Time it right – around key dates, for example: 
  • National voter registration drives such as Welcome to Your Vote Week. 
  • When young people are already thinking about political issues.
• Make it more than admin – tie registration into meaningful conversations about democracy, like:
  • Debating an issue they care about
  • Exploring who represents them locally or nationally
  • Finding out what local decisions have shaped their community
• Link voter registration to personal agency – linking it to having a say in decisions that affect your life, rather than just ticking an administrative box.

Framing the task this way helps it feel less like a form and more like a first step toward action. Whether or not they are yet eligible to vote, understanding how to register helps young people feel prepared and included.

Other resources that might be useful are: 

• The Electoral Commission’s Register to Vote page 
• The Electoral Commission’s voter eligibility checker
• canivote.org.uk – to help anyone who isn’t a British Citizen check whether they are able to vote in an upcoming election 
• check.justregister.org.uk – explore how many people are registered to vote in your constituency compared to others.
• If you’re working with young people with additional needs, or using screen readers – see these easy read resources on voter registration and voter ID.