2024 UK General Election | What you need to know
A UK General Election to elect the next UK Government at Westminster is expected to take place sometime in 2024. No date has been announced yet, but details will be published here once known.
Westminster parliament is responsible for UK-wide legislation and policy which has a direct effect on social work practice across the UK. This includes social justice, Universal Credit, human rights and asylum and immigration.
Westminster is also responsible for social work, health and social care specific legislation and policy in England. However, these areas are devolved to the parliaments in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Other social work related areas- such as justice, mental health, housing and education- are also devolved. The only exceptions are the provision of justice & policing and mental health in Wales, which remains reserved to Westminster.
Stay informed of BASW's campaigning and other relevant information and updates relating to the upcoming election on th tabs below.
BASW's Campaigning
BASW UK Social Work Manifesto
BASW has published a social work manifesto for the UK General Election.
This is our framework for campaigning for a better supported social work profession and a fairer society across the UK, setting out our key asks of the next UK Government and Parliament. It is divided into four parts to clearly identify and explain what areas affect the whole of the UK, or specific nations only. Each nation also has their own version.
In April 2024, Let's Talk Social Work spoke to Kerri Prince, BASW’s Public and Political Affairs Lead, and Martin Sexton, outgoing Chair of BASW’s Policy Ethics and Human Rights Committee, about the asks outlined in the manifesto. Listen to the full episode here.
Hustings
BASW is seeking to organise opportunities for members to hear from candidates in the lead up to the General Election. More details will be available here in due course.
Election Blogs
Scrap the two-child limit & benefit cap
Uprate benefits each year in line with inflation
Invest in family and community services
Investing in Good Quality Housing
Investing in good-quality specialist and/or supported housing
Undertake a review of those benefits that fuel the housing crisis
The importance of lived experience
Repeal the Illegal Migration Act
Scrap the National Age Assessment Board
Voter Registration
Promote the Vote
BASW supports the Promote the Vote project, which aims to encourage participation in elections through voter registration and reasonable adjustments to make voting accessible for all.
We've published new practice guidance for social workers to support adults with learning disabilities to vote.
For the first time this year, photo ID will be required in all parts of the UK to vote in the upcoming General Election.
We are calling on social workers to take action to prevent mass disenfranchisement of the people we support by getting involved in your local area in Promote the Vote and supporting people to get their ID so they can’t be denied their rights. To apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, which is a newly introduced form of ID brought in under the voter ID legislation, people can be supported to apply if:
- they do not have accepted photo ID
- they no longer look like the photo on their ID
- the name on their photo ID is different to the name on the electoral register
- Voters can apply for this online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
- https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voter-id-forms-and-letters (easy read and large print versions available)
Top 5 Actions BASW Members can take now:
- Speak to your Principal Social Worker or Head of Service about taking action to Promote the Vote in your local area.
- Pull together a list of local support providers and care homes who you can visit and encourage to get involved.
- Organise a briefing or information session for other social workers to spread the word and mobilise others into action - this could be with the support of your local BASW branch.
- Make contact with local user led organisations and find out if they are running a local campaign about voter registration and voter ID that you can get involved with and support.
- Include support to register, ensure voter ID is in place and any reasonable adjustment needed on the day to enable to the person to visit a polling station and vote in the person’s needs assessment and support plan.
Register to Vote
You must be on the electoral register to vote in elections. Anyone aged 16 or over (or 14 or over in Scotland and Wales) is eligible to be on the electoral register, although the minimum age that you are allowed to vote is 18.
You must also be one of the following:
- a British citizen
- an Irish or EU citizen living in the UK
- a Commonwealth citizen who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
- a citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
You normally only need to register once - not for every election. You’ll need to register again if you’ve changed your name, address or nationality.
Click here to register to vote or update your registration details on the electoral register.
Applying for a Postal Vote
Anyone who is registered to vote can apply for a postal vote no later than 5pm, 11 working days before the first election you want a postal vote for.
Click here to apply online for a postal vote for General Elections.
If you’re registered to vote anonymously, apply for your postal vote through your local Electoral Registration Office.
If you live in Northern Ireland, apply for your postal vote here.
Other ways to apply
If you cannot apply online, download and fill in a postal vote application form. Send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.
Contact your local Electoral Registration Office who can post you a paper form.
If you cannot sign a printed form, contact your local Electoral Registration Office.
Applying for a Proxy Vote
You can get someone else to vote on your behalf (a proxy) if you cannot go to the polling station in person.
You must both be registered to vote before applying. You must apply by 5pm, at least 6 working days before polling day.
Click here to apply online for a proxy vote.
If you live in Northern Ireland, apply for your postal vote here.
If you miss the deadline you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote.
If you’re registered to vote anonymously, apply for a proxy vote through your local Electoral Registration Office.
Other ways to apply
If you cannot apply online, download and fill in a proxy voting application form. Send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.
If you cannot sign a printed form, contact your local Electoral Registration Office.
Update details of an existing proxy vote
Contact your local Electoral Registration Office.
Useful Information
Contact your Candidates
Information about how to contact the candidates standing for election in your local area will be available here in due course.
Meantime, you can use the UK Parliament website to find and contact your MP.
Find your Polling Station
Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm on polling day. Remember, you must bring voter ID with you to the polling station.
Information about how to find where to vote in your local area will be available here in due course.
Your Poll Card
You’ll be sent a poll card just before the election telling you when to vote and at which polling station.
You can only vote at the polling station location on your card. You do not have to take your poll card with you.
If you have not received a poll card but think you should, contact your local Electoral Registration Office.
You can still vote if you’ve lost your card.
Photo ID
You’ll need to show photo ID when voting in person in the General Election. There are different rules if you vote in Northern Ireland.
Accepted photo ID
You’ll need one of the following types of photo ID to vote:
- a UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving licence (full or provisional)
- a driving licence issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands
- a UK passport
- a passport issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country
- a PASS card (National Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
- a Blue Badge
- a biometric residence permit (BRP)
- a Defence Identity Card (MOD form 90)
- a national identity card issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- a Northern Ireland Electoral Identity Card
- a Voter Authority Certificate
- an Anonymous Elector’s Document
You can also use one of the following travel passes as photo ID when you vote:
- an older person’s bus pass
- a disabled person’s bus pass
- an Oyster 60+ card
- a Freedom Pass
- a Scottish National Entitlement Card (NEC)
- a 60 and Over Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- a Disabled Person’s Welsh Concessionary Travel Card
- a Northern Ireland concessionary travel pass
The photo on your ID must look like you. You can still use your ID even if it has expired.
If you’re voting as someone’s proxy
You’ll need to take your own ID when you go to vote on someone else’s behalf. You do not need to take theirs.
If you’ve changed your name
The name on your ID must match your name on the electoral register. If it does not, you’ll need to either:
- register to vote again with your new details
- take a document with you to vote that proves you’ve changed your name (for example, a marriage certificate)
Small differences do not matter. For example, if your ID says ‘Jim Smith’ instead of ‘James Smith’.
If you do not have accepted photo ID
If you do not have a type of photo ID that allows you to vote, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.
Voting from Abroad
How you vote when you’re abroad depends on:
- whether you’ll be abroad temporarily or living abroad
- where you want to vote
If you’ll be abroad temporarily
You can vote by post or proxy if you’ll be abroad temporarily on election day, for example on holiday or a work trip.
Voting in England, Scotland or Wales
You can arrange:
- to vote by post
- for someone else to vote for you (vote by proxy)
If you’re abroad on election day you need to make arrangements in advance. Apply to vote by proxy if the election is less than 2 weeks away and you have not made arrangements yet.
Your postal ballot will be sent to the address you’ve chosen no earlier than 16 days before the election. You need to return your ballot before 10pm on polling day.
Voting in Northern Ireland
There’s a different process to apply to vote by post or proxy if you live in Northern Ireland and will be abroad temporarily on election day.
If you will not have time to receive and return your postal ballot in Northern Ireland before going abroad you’ll need to vote by proxy. You cannot apply to have your postal vote sent outside the UK.
If you’re moving or living abroad
You need to register as an overseas voter.
You can vote by post or proxy, if you’re eligible. You’ll be asked to make this choice when you register.
Find out how to vote if you’re registered as an overseas voter.
Voting if you have a Disability
If you have a disability, your local Electoral Registration Office can tell you about:
- physical access, for example wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces
- low-level polling booths
- any specific equipment you need
Every polling station must provide at least one large print display version of the ballot paper.