More than a million people have applied to vote in the general election, or update their details, in the last week - with just hours to go till the deadline expires.

Applications to vote on 12 December close at 11.59pm tonight.

Official figures show that at least 2.8 million applications have been filed since the pre-Christmas poll was called just under a month ago.

Last week, some 1,036,450 people submitted their forms - either online or by post.

The highest number of applications were made last Friday, with more than 307,000 logged.


Celebrities are tweeting deliberate false news to lure people into clicking a link where they can sign up, and businesses are letting homeless people use their address to help boost the number of voters.

However, the Electoral Reform Society says up to a third of those registered so far are likely people who were already on the list.

Before the December election was announced, the Electoral Commission said there were about nine million people eligible to vote who hadn't registered. That number is now lower, but there are still people not signed up - known as the missing millions.

And the organisation says the level of unregistered people eligible to vote stretches between 12% and 26% in regions across the UK.

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Who is and isn't registered to vote so far?

Anyone who wants to cast a vote to pick their local MP has to register to vote by 11.59pm tonight.

It takes about five minutes and means you have the choice of whether to take part on election day.

With one day left to go, 2,824,750 have signed up - the vast majority of them young people.

Here's a breakdown of voter registration applications by age group so far:

Under 25: 1,009,000

25-34: 851,000

35-44: 426,000

45-54: 262,000

55-64: 160,000

65-74: 76,000

Over 75: 38,000

Why the Brexit Election matters

At every general election, there is always speculation about whether those under 25 might buck the historic trend and turn out in the same numbers as older people.

But so far, more young people have registered than in 2017 - and historically the highest number of sign-ups in a single day happens on deadline day.

It's not just age where there are wildly different changes in the number of people registered to vote.

Last week, the Electoral Commission shared a region-by-region breakdown showing the percentage of eligible voters who are yet to register:

Northern Ireland - 26%

London - 18%

Scotland - 16%

East Midlands - 15%

North West England - 15%

South East England - 14%

South West England - 13%

Yorkshire and Humber - 13%

West Midlands - 12%

East of England - 12%

There were no figures available for North East England or Wales.

Image: Vrinda says voting in the current climate is 'so important'

Sky News spoke to voters in Bristol who said it was crucial people sign up to have their say.

David, 28, said: "I think it's very important - I don't think you can complain about the things that are happening in the country if you haven't taken the opportunity to have your say."

Another voter, Vrinda, said: "It's so important, especially with the current climate and issues we're going through - Brexit - it's more important than it's ever been."

Chris - also registered - told Sky News it will be a tough decision: "I find it very difficult actually and I don't find it that important because I don't find that any of the parties particularly appeal to me.

"I'm still registered and I will decide over the next few days which way I'm going to go if I'm going to go anyway but I do find it difficult to decide."

Image: Chris says none of the parties particularly appeal to him

How are people being encouraged to register to vote?

There was a big spike in registrations when campaigners declared last Friday "national voter registration day".

Celebrities lent their voice to the initiative, but they're also trying more creative methods to reach people who might not be interested in elections.

Actor Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films, posted "New Harry Potter film with original cast to begin shooting in 2020…" with a mysterious link that when clicked took you to the voter registration site.

People's reactions have been mixed, ranging from "Are you trying to kill me? Not funny" to "this is genius".

Podcaster Marvyn Harrison imported the trend that began in the US last year by tweeting the headline "Beyonce and her 'rapper' husband Jay Z confirm their 'conscious uncoupling'" in a post designed to look like he was sharing a news article.

But when clicked, it takes users to the voter registration site.

And Game Of Thrones star Emilia Clarke posted a video that's had more than five million views telling her fans "you have a voice - use it" with a link to the same webpage.

'Join me on Sky News on election night'

Homeless people are also facing a big drive to register, with a brewery in Bristol offering its address to those of no fixed abode.

Domhnaill Barnes runs the bar at the Bristol Beer Factory and Arnolfini Cafe, and he told Sky News the reaction has been positive.

"Certainly those I've spoken to, it's been pure gratitude - they're just absolutely delighted," he said.

"Lots of them didn't know they could vote or had the right and they feel this has given them their voice back - they felt disenfranchised - and this is just one small step to help them feel like they are still part of society."

The Electoral Commission says homeless people can register to vote using an address where they spend a "substantial" part of their time, such as a shelter or hostel.

That has sparked similar initiatives, including at a bar in Cardiff and a shop in Huddersfield.

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