View this email in your browser ([link removed])
STATEMENT

30 October 2019

MCB urges all Muslims to register to vote for the 2019 General Election

The UK is expected to hold a General Election on 12^th December 2019. The Muslim Council of Britain believes it is imperative that politicians and political parties across the spectrum use this upcoming General Election as an opportunity to change the tone of politics from one of divisiveness and disunity to one of cohesion and collaboration. This debate must be respectful and civilised, engaging all sections of British society and not resort to dog-whistle politics which seeks to scapegoat minorities.

This General Election is an opportunity for British Muslims to make their voices heard by exercising the civil obligation to fully engage and participate in the political process. It is important for Mosques and Islamic Centres to work with their communities to play an active role in the elections, by helping their congregations ensure they are registered to vote, and emphasising the importance of political participation.

The Muslim Council of Britain does not endorse any political party or prospective parliamentary candidate, but will work with all political parties to engage British Muslim communities and ensure every voice is heard in this election. During the General Election, the MCB will be producing a report into key policies for British Muslims, along with resources to help communities to engage with the political process, including analysis of party manifestos and advice for organising hustings.

The MCB will also work with Muslim communities across Britain to take part in the political process to help as many Muslims as possible to understand the political process and the views of their local candidates, and use their democratic right to vote.

Voting is not a luxury – it is the responsibility of all citizens. The Muslim Council of Britain calls on Muslims across the UK to take the first step to exercising this essential right by ensuring they are registered to vote with their local authority.

Registering to vote

To vote in a UK General Election you must:
* Be 18 or over on the day of the election.
* Be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth ([link removed]) citizen.
* Be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years).
* Not be legally excluded from voting.

You also need to be on the electoral register. You only have to register once, but will need to re-register if you have changed your address, name or nationality since you first registered. In order to vote in this general election you must be registered by at least Monday 25^th November.

The forms can be completed online ([link removed]) . You may need details of your national insurance number and your passport if you’re a British citizen living abroad, and want to vote in England, Scotland or Wales. If you need help, you should contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can use this service to find the address ([link removed]) if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland you need to contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) ([link removed]) .

If you are a student you can register to vote at both your home and term-time addresses, but remember that in a general election it is illegal to vote more than once. You don’t need a fixed address to vote. You can still register to vote if you are homeless or have no fixed address, are a person who has been remanded in custody, but you have not yet been convicted of any offence, or are a patient in a mental health hospital. There are additional forms to fill in – you can find the instructions here ([link removed]) .

If you have any doubts that you are registered to vote, you should contact your local Electoral Registration Office. You can use this service to find the address ([link removed]) if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you live in Northern Ireland you need to contact the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland (EONI) ([link removed]) .

For more information on the work of the MCB during the General Election, or for any help in registering to vote, please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

If you would like to donate to the MCB for our General Election campaign, please visit: [link removed]

[ENDS]

============================================================
1.The Muslim Council of Britain is the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with over
500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques,
charities and schools.

2. For further information please contact:
The Muslim Council of Britain
PO Box 57330
London
E1 2WJ
Tel: 0845 26 26 786
Fax: 0207 247 7079
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])


Received this message as a forward? ** Subscribe to our mailing list ([link removed])
to receive instant updates from the MCB.

Follow MCB Interactive
Twitter: ** www.twitter.com/MuslimCouncil ([link removed])

Facebook: ** www.facebook.com/muslimcouncil.uk ([link removed])

Instagram: ** www.instagram.com/MuslimCouncil.uk ([link removed])

Youtube: ** www.youtube.com/MuslimCouncil ([link removed])

** Subscribe to receive our press releases ([link removed])

** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])