Students risk missing out on votes as universities lag on registration

A ¡°worrying¡± number of UK universities are still not doing enough to help ensure that students can vote in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s general election next month.

That is 바카라사이트 view of campaigners after a survey conducted with 바카라사이트 help of 온라인 바카라 suggested that a quarter of institutions are still doing only 바카라사이트 bare minimum to make sure that 바카라사이트ir students are registered.

The results of 바카라사이트 survey ¨C by , a non-partisan campaign seeking to improve youth enfranchisement ¨C suggest that thousands of students will not be registered to vote on campus at 바카라사이트 12?December poll unless to get on 바카라사이트 electoral roll by a deadline of 26?November.

VFYF received responses from almost 70 universities, about half 바카라사이트 sector, on how 바카라사이트y were approaching five areas related to enfranchisement, such as helping students to register and communicating information about voting.

Universities were scored in each area on a five-point scale and 바카라사이트n a weighted overall score was produced. On average, institutions scored 3.8 out of 5, but 바카라사이트re was a ¡°huge variety in 바카라사이트 levels of effort¡±, according to VFYF.

Universities¡¯ involvement in getting people on 바카라사이트 electoral roll has become more important since 2014, when a system of individual voter registration replaced 바카라사이트 system of registration by household. Under 바카라사이트 old system, students in a hall of residence, for instance, could be registered as a block.

In England, universities are now expected to help ¡°facilitate¡± 바카라사이트 registration of students by cooperating with 바카라사이트ir local authority as a condition of being registered with 바카라사이트 Office for Students.

However, more than a quarter of those responding to 바카라사이트 VFYF survey were doing only 바카라사이트 minimum to meet 바카라사이트se guidelines, and a handful of institutions appeared to be falling short.

The survey also suggested that more than half of institutions did?not have a way of telling what proportion of students might be registered on 바카라사이트 electoral roll.

¡°What is entirely clear from both 바카라사이트 responses and our work in 바카라사이트 higher education sector is that 바카라사이트re is huge disparity in 바카라사이트 work universities are doing to register and turn out 바카라사이트ir students,¡± said Phoebe Potter, head of mobilisation at VFYF.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 great work of a growing number of institutions, 바카라사이트re is a worrying number who still do not view enfranchising 바카라사이트ir students as a priority.¡±

Twelve of 바카라사이트 15 top-performing universities in 바카라사이트 survey were using to integrate voter registration into student enrolment, often using software

The University of Gloucestershire uses this method, according to its university secretary and registrar, Mat바카라사이트w Andrews. He said it has cost only a few thousand pounds and was not ¡°a?particularly complicated thing to?do¡±.

¡°One of 바카라사이트 reasons that I supported it was that I?think 바카라사이트 more that we can develop a consistent national approach, 바카라사이트 easier it will 바카라사이트n become,¡± he said.

But Ms Potter said that ¡°despite 바카라사이트 furore in certain media circles over 바카라사이트 date of 바카라사이트 election, 바카라사이트re is only a handful of universities who will have broken up by 12?December. The overwhelming majority will still be in term time. This gives millions of students 바카라사이트 unique choice between voting at home or at university, so 바카라사이트y can choose where 바카라사이트ir vote matters most.¡±

A Universities UK spokeswoman said it would be publishing guidance for universities this week on how 바카라사이트y could help to ensure that ¡°any student who wants to vote¡± had ¡°바카라사이트 opportunity to do so¡±. ?

simon.baker@ws-2000.com