Students urged to "MAKE YOUR MARK!"

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 7th Feb 2005

Students in Leeds are being given a message to "Make Your Mark" in the forthcoming general election by a new campaign that has just been launched. The campaign is highlighting the need for students to make sure they don't lose the chance to vote by trying to encourage students to ensure they are on the electoral register.

Ed Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, joined Cllr Greg Mulholland and Lib Dem Students to launch the campaign 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 vote in Leeds and the deadline for registration with the elections office is 11 March.

Ed Davy MP commented, "If students come out and vote, it can affect the general election result here in Leeds and across the country. It's vitally important that students ensure they do vote so their views are not ignored."

Cllr Greg Mulholland, who represents Headingley which is where most of the students live, said, "Students are part of the community here and it is essential that we as their representatives engage with them and show them that the political process is relevant to them".

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."

The "Make Your Mark" campaign will try to get the message across the students both on campus and in their homes and student volunteers will deliver 15,000 electoral registration forms in the student areas. 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.

James Blake, president of Leeds University Liberal Democrats said, "We are trying to make it as easy as possible for people to register before 11 March and this way we hope as many students as possible will use their vote come the general election. If student vote, the Government will have to listen".

Rolling registration forms are also available online at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or by calling the council's elections helpline on (0113) 247 6726.