EU referendum: Majority of UK students do not know when voting day is, reveals poll

72 per cent say they think referendum outcome will have a significant impact on students’ futures, despite worrying finding

(PA)

More than half of British university students do not know when the EU referendum is taking place, according to a worrying new poll published Friday.

Conducted by YouthSight for Universities UK, a staggering 63 per cent of just over 2,000 students were not able to name the date as 23, and 54 per cent did not know the month as being June.

While a high proportion expressed an interest in the outcome, many risk not being able to vote because they are not registered at the address they will be at on the day.

The news has come just hours after another poll of 12,000 UK students revealed an overwhelming 81 per cent are set to vote Remain, suggesting, for the first time, that the student contingent could swing the campaign in the opposite direction, as many site job security as being their main reason for staying in the union.

Almost two million students across the nation are eligible to vote in June’s referendum, and huge efforts have been made by the country’s universities and colleges to increase student voter registration numbers.

The date of the referendum, however - outside of term-time - means many students who registered to vote at the recent local elections on 5 May may need to re-register if they will be at a different address on 23 June.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, described the finding as being a “real concern” and said that, from this week, universities will be scaling up their efforts to encourage students to register to vote, and to make sure they do so in the right location.

She also said it was important students think about where they are likely to be on referendum day and also to consider registering to vote by post or by proxy, adding: “With nearly two million UK students eligible to vote, it is vital they have all the necessary information to make sure they can take part in this hugely important decision.”

The poll also revealed just 56 per cent of students registered only at their term-time address are likely to be there on polling day, while a quarter who said they are registered only at their university address confirmed they won’t be there on 23 June.

Almost three quarters (72 per cent) said they think the outcome of the referendum will have a significant impact on students’ futures, despite the concerning result.

Richard Brooks, deputy president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said the referendum is “a once in a generation vote,” and added: “The decision made on 23 June will impact young people and students the most as they are the ones that will live with the consequences for the longest.

“If students don’t want their future decided for them, it is essential as many as possible get out and vote.

“If they are unsure about where they will be, students can register at both their term-time and home address, providing they only vote once. If they are going to be on holiday or are heading to Glastonbury, they should apply for a postal vote by 5pm 8 June.”

Please click here for more information and to register to vote