2024 UK General Election | What you need to know
A UK General Election to elect the next UK Government at Westminster will take place on Thursday, 4 July 2024.
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 the 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.
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
Abolish 'scientific methods' of age assessment
Review of No Recourse to Public Funds
Restore Foreign Aid Contribution
Increase the Non-Taxable Mileage Rate
Time to properly fund social work & social care
Develop a Social Work Workforce Strategy
![Time to get it right. BASW's General Election 2024 Manifesto.](/sites/default/files/styles/uncropped_xs/public/2024-03/BASW%20General%20Election%202024%20Manifesto%20UK_0.jpg?itok=uemwqpHW)
Party Manifestos
Conservatives
BASW England's Policy & Campaigns Officer, Josh Dixon takes a closer look at the Conservative Party's offering to voters at this election.
Labour
BASW UK's Public & Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince summarises the Labour Party's pitch to voters at this election.
Liberal Democrats
BASW UK's Communications & External Relations Officer, Jonny Adamson asks key questions of the Liberal Democrat's manifesto in the run up to polling day.
SNP
SASW's Communications & Public Affairs Officer, George Hannah takes a look through the SNP Manifesto and what they're putting forward to voters in Scotland.
Reform UK
BASW UK Public & Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince reads through and summarises the policy proposals from Reform UK for this election.
Greens
BASW UK Public & Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince examines the Green Party's manifesto for England and Wales, finding out what they're hoping to deliver in the next parliament.
Plaid Cymru
BASW Cymru's Communications & Public Affairs Officer, Steven Crane-Jenkins examines Plaid Cymru's mainfeso in depth, analysing what they're promising voters in Wales.
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.
Let's Talk Social Work dedicated an episode to the Promote The Vote campaign, exploring how social workers can get involved.
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.
The deadline to register to vote for the 2024 General Election is 23.59 on Tuesday, 18 June 2024.
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, Wednesday 19 June 2024.
*** 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, Wednesday 26 June 2024.
*** 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
The 'Who Can I Vote For?' website allows you to search for the candidates standing for election in your area. It also provides contact details for them too.
*** Access the Who Can I Vote For? website here ***
BASW has created a template letter that you can use when contacting your candidates. Download our template here.
You may prefer to write your own email or letter to candidates. In which case, here’s our top tips:
- Include your address so the candidate knows you are their constituent.
- Be concise- one side of A4 if a letter, or maximum 500 words for an email.
- Be polite, even if you disagree.
- Make sure you put forward a clear ask of them.
- Mention your BASW/SWU membership- it helps raise our profile with candidates too!
If you do want to highlight BASW’s manifesto, we have nation-specific versions depending on where you are based across the UK.
- England Manifesto
- Scotland Manifesto
- Cymru Manifesto
- Cymru Manifesto (English)
- Northern Ireland Manifesto
Attending Hustings Events
Public hustings events will usually be organised in your local area by community groups. They are an opportunity to ask candidates questions on specific or general topics.
Hustings will have different formats depending on who is organising them, but they will normally invite questions from the audience. Here’s some suggested questions:
- What will you do to support social work and social care in the next parliament?
- Will you commit to working with BASW and SWU to improve working conditions for social workers and achieve a better supported social work profession?
- One of BASW’s manifesto asks is {CHOOSE A POLICY ASK}, do you agree with them and how will you make it happen?
Keep an eye on local newspapers, social media and community groups for details of hustings events. You might also want to email candidates directly to ask when they will be.
Let us know how you get on!
We would be very interested to hear any responses you receive from your candidates- particularly if they pledge to support any of our campaign asks and want to work with us in the next parliament.
We will follow up with any candidates elected as MPs after the election who adopt our manifesto asks and/or express a wish to work with us. Your support in making this happen is appreciated!
Please contact our Political Affairs Lead, Kerri Prince on kerri.prince@basw.co.uk
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.
The ''Where Do I Vote' website allows you to search for the location of your polling station.
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. The deadline for applying is 5pm on Wednesday, 26 June 2024.
*** Click here to 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.