10,000 Voter Registration Forms Delivered to Student Houses

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 23rd Feb 2005

10,000 voter registration forms are being delivered to student houses in Headingley and Hyde Park as part of the "Make Your Mark" campaign to encourage students to vote in the forthcoming general election.

Delegates from the LDYS (Lib Dem Youth & Students) about to start delivering electoral registration forms as part of the Mark Your Mark campaign. The campaign, which was launched by Lib Dem MP Ed Davey and local Councillor Greg Mulholland is reminding students that they must sign-up to vote in order to be able to have their say. If the election is on 5th May as expected, it would be during term time, so students would be voting in Leeds and the deadline for registration with the elections office is 11 March.

Last weekend saw the Liberal Democrats youth wing, LDYS (Lib Dem Youth and Students) conference come to Leeds. Cllr Greg Mulholland opened the conference on Friday night and told delegates from all over the country, "never before have students had such a crucial role to play in an election".

On Sunday morning, delegates delivered voter registration forms to houses across Hyde Park and Headingley Students can be on the electoral register in two places, where they study and at their parents' address, but they can only vote once in the general election but most are expected to vote here in Leeds where they spend most of the year, especially it the election is as expected in April or May which will be term time.

Of all constituencies in the country, Leeds North West has the second highest number of students (19,829) so if the students vote, it will have a very significant impact on the result. Adds Cllr Mulholland, "The message is clear: that the result in Leeds North will be determined by students if they come out and vote. It will such a close election that each vote really will count."

James Blake, president of Leeds University Liberal Democrats said, "It is essential students know they can vote here in Leeds where their collective voice can make a real difference. We are saying to students - 'Don't Lose Your Voice!' and make sure you sign up to vote, because your vote will really count this time round".