The official young persons guide to why and how to vote

The official young persons guide to why and how to vote Now, if youve got even a casual interest in the world at large, you may have heard something about an election coming up (June 8th, to be precise). If youve managed to register to vote before the May 22nd deadline; top work, superstar. Treat yourself to a lollipop for being so well organised.  ?? With so many vital issues on the line in this election (lets not get it twisted, this is about way more than Brexit), now is the time for our generation to stand up for ourselves and each other and make our voices heard. Theres tons of important things to talk about from zero-hour contracts to tuition fees, LGBT rights to the NHS. If any of those things affect you or someone you know, youre more interested in politics than you realise. Kingston councillor and record store owner Jon Tolley explains it better than we can. YOU. ALREADY. ARE interested in politics. so make sure you have a say in #GE2017 https://t.co/876hwJZbcr pic.twitter.com/MCJAKhYN70 â€" jon tolley (@JonTolleyTweets) 16 May 2017 All  that being said, its time for us young people to express ourselves in the ballot box. Its true, the way our democracy is set up isnt perfect. If youre disillusioned with party politics and you feel like your vote wont count, you have every right. But at the same time, you should understand that the people that dont want the status quo to change or improve are counting on you feeling that way. In the 2015 election, more people didnt vote for anyone than voted for the winning party.    An astonishing 246,487 young people signed up to have their say on the last day, but thats only a job half done. It doesnt matter what your allegiance might be. If you vote and encourage others to do the same we could swing this thing, boys and girls. If you dont know where to start, let us give you the skinny. Your guide to getting informed There are all kinds of neat resources out there that help you figure out how to use your vote if youre not already sure. A lot of them will demystify the whole process too. Here are just a few: GE2017.com Here youll find a quiz where you can find out what party aligns most with your beliefs and, if youre a student, a  calculator which tells you whether your vote will have more impact in your home constituency or university town. ISideWith Another tool thatll tell you, well who you side with, but with polls on specific issues, news and data. Itll tell you what party is right for you without you having to risk getting tripped up by media bias. Use Your Voice An unbiased guide to the ins-and-outs of the political system in this country. Your Vote Matters This site will tell all about how an election works and how you can do your bit Tactical 2017  We wanna make it clear that Debut isnt endorsing or condemning anyone. But if you did want to vote tactically, this website will explain how you can do it in your constituency. TheyWorkForYou Punch your postcode in and it will tell you how your MP has voted in parliament, so you can see if they are truly standing up for your needs. Bite The Ballot A charity looking to stop political apathy among young people and make sure they get to have their say. The Election and Human Rights by RightsInfo Analysis of the three main parties manifestos (more on the way) on how they approach human rights issues for different groups of people. The Politics Project A hub for all things election-related, with free resources about voter registration, the political system, issues and more. How to vote on election day   Voting on the day itself is as easy as you like. When the time comes, heres what you need to do and need to know. 1. Identify your local polling station If registered you should get a polling card delivered to you door within the next two weeks. Thatll tell you where your polling station is and how long its open. Its usually a school or church hall in your local area.  If the address of the polling station isnt familiar to you, make sure to seek it out prior to election day so you know what youre doing. IMPORTANT: Most polling stations open from 7 in the morning and open as late at 10pm, so dont think that if you have a 9 to 5 you wont be able to vote. Make sure to pick a time and punch it into your diary for June 8th posthaste. 2.  Follow the instructions on your ballot paper Therell be instructions on your ballot paper telling you exactly how to make your choice. Its important that you follow these to the letter and not write anything else on your ballot or your vote may not count. Therell be a Presiding Officer in the polling station on hand to help if you have any trouble. 3. Take photos! But not inside. Taking a pic of your I voted sticker or posing outside the polling station is a big yes. It reminds your pals to also do their civic duty. However, take a picture inside and you could be breaching secrecy of ballot rules.  So, you know. Dont do that. IMPORTANT: If you live in Northern Ireland, youll also need photo ID to vote in the election. Passport or driving license will do nicely. Voting postal and proxy Cant make it to a polling station to save your life? No problem. Its too late to apply for a postal vote now, but you can still appoint a person to vote for you by proxy. Take note because theres a different form for each different situation. You can vote by proxy if: A disability stops you from getting to a polling station If youre away on a course or being otherwise educated If youre overseas If youre away for work If youre away as part of the Armed Forced You can find each of these different forms on the Your Vote Matters site. Best of luck to everyone voting and remember to show the world that young people care about our future by turning up to vote on June 8th! Images via Bite The Ballot and Jelly London. Love the graphics? Download and share them everywhere using the #TurnUp hashtag.   Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for more careers insights.