Gay Rugby team say “come out and vote”

King’s Cross Steelers, the world’s first gay and inclusive rugby team, are standing alongside campaigning organisation HOPE not hate and calling for LGBT+ people to exercise their right to vote and promote equality at the ballot box.

The voter registration campaign – which is also supported by the Communication Workers Union, Unison, GMB Shout!, Unison, ASLEF and Britannia Staff Union – has been organised to highlight changes to the voter registration process which could see millions lose their right to vote if they don’t check and re-register.

These changes are causing the biggest drop off from the electoral register in our history, according to research from HOPE not hate.  The drop off is likely to have a major impact on the outcome of the General Election in May, as many of the worst affected constituencies are in key marginal seats.

There are almost one million fewer people on the electoral register compared to last year, most of them students, thanks to the changes brought about last summer by the Government’s new Individual Electoral Registration (IER).

Groups particularly affected include 17-18-year olds, those living in private rented accommodation and those from newer immigrant communities.

Taken nationally with those already eligible but not registered to vote, there are now some 8.5m people missing from the UK’s electoral register.

You can make sure you’re registered to vote by going to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

To learn more about HOPE not hate campaign, click here:

For more on the King’s Cross Steelers, click here: