rivingtonpike

We are voting by proxy or by post in the upcoming UK election. Has anyone received any paperwork or instructions yet? It's getting a bit close. We were just leaving the UK for the last election so this is the first expat experience. We're still registered as expat voters with our old constituency.

nativenewyorker

We are registered but haven't received any paperwork yet.

Pythagoras

I got my papers yesterday - but then I'm in Sweden (probably post may take a little longer for Canada).

Could always drop an email to the Returning Officer for your (ex) constituency to see whats going on.

Tirytory

Didn't get ours done in time...

rivingtonpike

I hope we get ours soon. Still not sure about the right or wrongs of being allowed to vote at all.

Shard

Just vote. If nothing else you'll annoy Russell Brand, which is no bad thing.

JamesM

It didn't cross my mind.

I'm anticipating it to be the best voter turn out for quite some time though.

What ever people say about UKIP they have swelled national interest in politics back in the old land.

Shard

I wonder about that. I'm usually very keen on elections, but this time, it's a mass of confusion. The fact that no majority is predicted, that Labour is a bit hopeless under Millipede, that the LD's are all but written off, that UKIP can't whac-a-racist quickly enough makes for a disconcerting environment.

rivingtonpike

It's the fact I can vote for any whacko on the ballot paper and not suffer any of the consequences that I struggle with a bit. It won't stop me voting though. The post might!

Gillymonkey

I'm in the US and submitted my application for a proxy vote before the deadline. My constituency is Glasgow North and I got an automatic reply saying basically that they are madly busy but as long as you'd met the deadline you are good. Whether that is true remains to be seen.

rivingtonpike

Do they send us a ballot paper or can we vote online? I thought the pilot online voting at the last election was corrupted so they aren't doing it this time - but I may be wrong.

Gillymonkey

No idea. My Mum is my proxy so I am assuming she'd get a ballot paper through.

Almost Canadian

Do you believe you should, on the assumption that you don't intend to return anytime soon?

Gillymonkey

Well I am moving back in August so yes very pertinent for us.

rivingtonpike

Am I going to vote? Yes I am

On the basis I have a legal and democratic right to vote I think I should exercise it.

Should I have a vote? Tricky one. As the poster before me wrote, they are returning this year so the outcome will impact them. I'm permanent in Canada, so the impact of any outcome is less likely to affect my current circumstances. In the future though - who knows. I think I can only vote in one more election after this, even if I wanted to.

What I do think is unfair, is those people living in Canada as Permanent Residents, who pay taxes and hopefully make a positive contribution to society, yet aren't allowed to vote in Canada at all. Remember the "No taxation without representation" cry of the American War of Independence (I think)