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-   -   Voting in the UK as an Expat (https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/voting-uk-expat-274957/)

anya4oz Jan 2nd 2005 1:13 pm

Voting in the UK as an Expat
 
There's a rumor doing the rounds that Tony Blair is planning to call a General Election for the end of Feb. Dunno how true this is, but....

Did you know that, as an Expat, you have the right to vote in the UK for 15 years after leaving, in the constituency where you were last registered to vote? Although many of us have left the country, I feel it is still important for us all to be aware that we retain our democratic right to vote (even if, for various reasons, we decide not to in the end!).

You can find details about how to register here:

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Be aware, though, that the postal voting system only allows you one week to get the voting forms back to the UK, otherwise they don't get counted in the ballot. I'm planning to ask my MIL to act as a proxy voter for me - luckily she and I support the same party, so it won't be a hardship :)

Best of luck to all of you who decide to register.

Cheers,
Anya.

tonyk38 Jan 2nd 2005 1:32 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by anya4oz
There's a rumor doing the rounds that Tony Blair is planning to call a General Election for the end of Feb. Dunno how true this is, but....

Did you know that, as an Expat, you have the right to vote in the UK for 15 years after leaving, in the constituency where you were last registered to vote? Although many of us have left the country, I feel it is still important for us all to be aware that we retain our democratic right to vote (even if, for various reasons, we decide not to in the end!).

You can find details about how to register here:

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Be aware, though, that the postal voting system only allows you one week to get the voting forms back to the UK, otherwise they don't get counted in the ballot. I'm planning to ask my MIL to act as a proxy voter for me - luckily she and I support the same party, so it won't be a hardship :)

Best of luck to all of you who decide to register.

Cheers,
Anya.

I thought the election was in May. Maybe I've got it wrong. But since I've never voted in my life or even registered, I guess I'm a bit out of touch with these things! :D

anya4oz Jan 2nd 2005 1:37 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by tonyk38
I thought the election was in May. Maybe I've got it wrong. But since I've never voted in my life or even registered, I guess I'm a bit out of touch with these things! :D

Yeah, I think that's what a lot of people are expecting. However, there are rumblings from various quarters that Blair is putting things in place to go to the country earlier - & Feb is being quoted.....

We'll see!

But for those of us who *do* want to vote, now's the time to get the paperwork sorted, just in case!

Cheers,
Anya.

tonyk38 Jan 2nd 2005 1:41 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by anya4oz
Yeah, I think that's what a lot of people are expecting. However, there are rumblings from various quarters that Blair is putting things in place to go to the country earlier - & Feb is being quoted.....

We'll see!

But for those of us who *do* want to vote, now's the time to get the paperwork sorted, just in case!

Cheers,
Anya.

It's not that I don't want to vote, it's just that I don't like what the government does with the info you give them when you register to vote. Especially local government.

Why do you want to vote in a UK election if you don't mind me asking? :)

anya4oz Jan 2nd 2005 1:43 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by tonyk38
It's not that I don't want to vote, it's just that I don't like what the government does with the info you give them when you register to vote. Especially local government.

Why do you want to vote in a UK election if you don't mind me asking? :)

;) I'll tell you over a beer or two sometime!

Cheers,
Anya.

tonyk38 Jan 2nd 2005 1:59 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by anya4oz
;) I'll tell you over a beer or two sometime!

Cheers,
Anya.

You're on!

See you at the Melb'n meet, all being well! :)

JAJ Jan 2nd 2005 2:33 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by anya4oz
Did you know that, as an Expat, you have the right to vote in the UK for 15 years after leaving, in the constituency where you were last registered to vote?

Note that this only applies to British citizens. Commonwealth and Irish citizens cannot vote in UK elections when resident overseas.

Also - overseas voting does not extend to local elections.

Those who left the UK before age 18 may also be eligible to register.

Jeremy

NJJ Jan 29th 2005 12:08 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by anya4oz
There's a rumor doing the rounds that Tony Blair is planning to call a General Election for the end of Feb. Dunno how true this is, but....

Did you know that, as an Expat, you have the right to vote in the UK for 15 years after leaving, in the constituency where you were last registered to vote? Although many of us have left the country, I feel it is still important for us all to be aware that we retain our democratic right to vote (even if, for various reasons, we decide not to in the end!).

You can find details about how to register here:

http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/

Be aware, though, that the postal voting system only allows you one week to get the voting forms back to the UK, otherwise they don't get counted in the ballot. I'm planning to ask my MIL to act as a proxy voter for me - luckily she and I support the same party, so it won't be a hardship :)

Best of luck to all of you who decide to register.

Cheers,
Anya.


On the registering to vote form has anyone had trouble getting the form witnessed? Reason being is that you need to get someone who is not related to you, is a british citizen and is not resident in the uk to witness the declaration. I dont know anyone where I live but aussies :confused:

Bob Jan 29th 2005 12:17 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by NJJ
On the registering to vote form has anyone had trouble getting the form witnessed? Reason being is that you need to get someone who is not related to you, is a british citizen and is not resident in the uk to witness the declaration. I dont know anyone where I live but aussies :confused:

I'm in the states, east coast, had to send it to a mate in san fran to do it, wasn't a problem with that...

MarkMyWords Jan 29th 2005 12:43 pm

Re: Voting in the UK as an Expat
 

Originally Posted by tonyk38
Why do you want to vote in a UK election if you don't mind me asking? :)

Because we can! And because we can't here (yet).


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