Heya its Benji here, let’s talk about something that affects your student life (Unfortunately not the SU bar prices this time): voting in the West of England Combined Authority elections on Thursday 1st May 2025.

This is the election that decides who’s in charge of stuff like:

•  Transport (My Arch-Nemesis)

•  Housing 

• Local jobs + apprenticeships (future you will thank you)

The Deadline

Register to vote by 11:59pm on Friday 11th April.
It takes 2 minutes. Literally. Do it here. All you need is:

• Your name

• Your address

• Your National Insurance number (check your email or bank app)

FAQs

Do I need ID now?

Yes. You’ll need photo ID to vote in person. Passport, driving licence, student travel cards (some count). No ID? No stress — apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate here.

Where do I vote?

If you’re living on-campus at the Uni of Bath, you can vote IN THE LIBRARY. Super easy. For everyone else, your polling card  will tell you where to go.

And yeah, not registering could mean a fine

If you ignore reminders to register, you could get fined up to £80. Not ideal when you’re already broke and budgeting with yellow-sticker groceries.

Why this actually matters

Students make up a BIG chunk of the local population. But if we don’t turn out, no one’s going to care what we think about rent, buses, part-time jobs, or climate action. Politicians listen to voters and we’ve got numbers so please everyone vote where your mouth is.

Please everyone make sure to register below:

Register here — takes 2 mins

- Your Community Officer x