"Not so much about apathy necessarily. More so about the barriers put in place by successive British governments. Paper based ballot papers that require postage from the UK to Australia and back again and needing to be physically returned by polling day in order to be counted. Less than 20,000 overseas votes in the last general election out of millions who are eligible. Why not introduce voting by secure internet – that would certainly increase the participation rate but UK politicians are not interested. I can vote for the executive of the National Trust by internet, for the executive of my political party by internet and for the executive of my professional body by internet – why is it so hard to vote in a general election or council election by internet?"
http://votes-for-expat-brits-blog.co...zens/#comments

Why on earth would I vote in an election in a country I don't live in.

+ 1

Hell I wouldn't even vote here if it weren't for the fine (for which I vote for the one I think is the biggest douche bag)... who gives a shit what's going on else where.

Do you vote in Australian national elections then northernbird to influence the choice of government where you live, assuming you are a British citizen resident there?

Furbacchione,
You don't seem too impressed with democracy in general to attach much importance to voting in Australia (although you do vote) or elsewhere?

Would it bother either of you if you couldn't vote anywhere but had to leave this up to others who see it as more their civic duty?

Why your sudden interest in British voting habits in Aus? Are you heading over this way.
Did you know its compulsory to attend polling stations here and there is a fine for not submitting some kind of ballot paper, even if its a spoilt one?

Being a British citizen resident here does not entitle one to vote here. You have to be an Australian citizen to do that.

I'm a dual citizen and yes of course I vote here in both local and federal elections.

If you don't exercise your right to vote, then perhaps you don't really have a right to complain when the MP's do something that you don't like?

I was aware that as an Australian citizen it's compulsary to vote, which is also the case in Belgium where I used to live. Normally you have to be a national to be able to vote which you say is also the case in Australia, although this is not the case in the UK where Commonwealth (and Irish) citizens are also able to vote. I'm, therefore, interested in the voting habits of non-Australian but British citizens living in Australia who seem disinclined to vote in the UK (even though they still have the right to vote up to 15 years away).

Why should I even be able to vote in UK elections?

I've lived and worked in Australia for over 5 years, it would be wrong to interfere with the election in another country.....


And where's the poll? I was going to vote

Democracy is about choice. Compulsory voting is not a choice therefore I say up yours to those that try to force me to do it.

Rubbish

There has to be an individual or party worth voting for. Relying on voting for the lesser of the evils makes those that vote look stupid if that's the tactic they are subscribing to.

Or alternatively, if you vote you implicitly legitimise the party system where they lie to you for a few months, then go off and do what they fancy. And if you vote you don't get to pick policies, you pick between n liars, none of which match what you think or will do what you say.

Maybe its only if you don't vote that you have the right to complain about what is done to you, without the opportunity for true democratic control.....

cant the consulate and high commission as ballot releasing and processing centre?

Just because you don't think there's a party worth voting for, doesn't mean that everyone else is of the same opinion.

If everyone voted just for policies, then nothing would ever get done. You have to vote for the party that you think will do the best for you. They cannot cater for individual whims, and yes, sometimes they do lie, or change policies- sometimes they are forced to by economic circumstances. I know sometimes you don't get much of a choice, and don't like what they do
but at the moment that is the way democracy works.

And I have voted in UK elections since I have been here- whether my vote got counted, I don't know, but I did exercise my right. After all, women fought hard to get the right to vote, and I'm not going to lose it through apathy. The UK still holds my pension, and I'm a British Citizen so I have not completely cut my ties with it.