Students of Huddersfield – today is the day to have your say and let your voice be heard.

Today is the day to vote in the General Election.

After months of campaigning and plenty of media coverage, now is the time to decide which party represents you the most and to have your say on who you want to lead the next government.

There are a number of issues that affect students, including the economy, healthcare, of course education, but also many more that affect us.

Only 44% of 18-25 year olds turned out to vote in the last General Election in 2010, and so it’s vital we speak up and let the voice of young people be heard.

The Students’ Union will be out on campus all day and at halls of accommodation encouraging students to rock up to the polling stations and cast their votes.

We’ll be facilitating walking buses throughout the day from a number of picking up points, including the Students’ Union and several halls of accommodation. We will be walking students to their local polling stations (these vary depending on where you live in Huddersfield) and this will be your chance to engage in the country’s future of the next five years.

So if you have read up on party manifestos and know who you want to vote for, do make sure you find half an hour in your day to head to your local polling station. It really is important the voice of students is heard by the next government so they can address the issues that matter to us.

Because voting matters, regardless who you vote for. Because speaking up for what you believe in matters. And because the student voice matters.

This matters.

Josh Elderfield

Students' Union President