Right to vote question
 

I have hunted, but can't find a clear answer to this specific question.

My son is a dual UK/US citizen and holder of a British passport and NI number. He got his British citizenship through me, but was born in the US and grew up in the US. In September 2018 he moved to the UK to go to uni, and intends (in so far as one can be sure of anything at 19) to make the UK his permanent home.

I can't find out for sure if he is allowed to register to vote in the UK elections, mostly because there is no definition of the term "resident". He does not qualify for home tuition fees because he has not been resident of the UK for three years prior to starting his studies, but I can find nothing which states whether that same definition applies to voting and a GE might be, well, imminent.

Does anybody happen to know the rules on his situation? I have emailed the government, but god knows when/if I'll hear back.

Re: Right to vote question
 

Not a expert opinion, but he must be eligible. He meets all the criteria, he's 18 or over, he's a British citizen with a British passport, he's resident (living) at an address in the UK, he's not in the country illegally https://www.gov.uk/elections-in-the-uk (I realise you've probably already seen this)

Not qualifying for home tuition fees due to not being 'ordinarily resident' for three years prior to starting Uni is an entirely separate issue.

Tell him to go for it, as you no doubt know he can register to vote online. Unless he's going to vote Tory, then tell him he's not eligible to register ;)

Re: Right to vote question
 

I did see that page - my only doubt was about the term "resident" and not being sure if that meant "living there now" or "have been living there for x amount of time" or whether it counted if living there as a student, etc. I mean, if he only planned to be there for three years of a degree and then come back to the US, would be still be entitled to vote? That isn't what he's planning, but it still isn't clear.

You are probably right though and no, he's, well, not a natural Tory voter...

Re: Right to vote question
 

+1 hear hear.

Re: Right to vote question
 

-1 there is not a party in the UK I would vote for at the moment...eaac are as bad as the other.

Re: Right to vote question
 

He's eligible to register to vote and has been since his arrival in September. It takes five minutes online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Given all the Brexit shenanigans going on at the moment I would suggest he should register sooner rather than later if he wants a say.

Re: Right to vote question
 

Thanks for the confirmation. I'll tell him to get on it.

Re: Right to vote question
 

I imagine someone used to not living under the yoke of the EU will be a useful addition to the Pompey brexiters tribe. ;)

Re: Right to vote question
 

Is that some kind of yoke?

Re: Right to vote question
 

Yolk. He meant yolk. I think he's worried about French eggs - Portsmouth used to be a major entry point for French eggs and butter.

Re: Right to vote question
 

So is that just an eggxample? :unsure:

Re: Right to vote question
 

It is, but I suspect his thoughts are a bit scrambled.