EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Can someone clear this up for me please regarding the forthcoming EU referendum. As regard ex-pats in Spain, will we be able to vote online, providing we have provided identity evidence?
I've seen a ever ever to a requirement to be on the electoral role. Surely that refers to the UK or is the a requirement to be registered on the Padron?
Thanks.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I believe you must have been registered on a UK electoral role within the past 15 years. This link is to apply I believe? https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I will qualify then, but I take it if you haven't been, you're stuffed, to quote a phrase?
Thanks for the response.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I believe that the 15 year rule is going to be abolished and that you just have to be a British Citizen to vote in UK General Elections. However I do not think that will be in place for the referendum and that the 15 year rule applies. I am non resident in Spain so vote as normal and luckily the vote will be between my trips to Spain so will vote. It may only be one vote but they all count either way. As always if you can vote but either can't be bothered to either register or make your vote, then no point whinging at the outcome.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Hi everyone,

I hope for a bit of clarification on this. I have only been in Spain 2 years (have NIE card etc. working and paying taxes). I assume I am still able to vote in this. It is just the logistics of it all. Do we have to do it by postal, online or visit one of the consulates? Barcelona would be my nearest. It is just there doesn't seem to be much information about the 'working abroad' Brit.
Strangely, or maybe not considering it is Spain ;), is that I even registered at the local council as a resident and confirmed I would like to vote in their local and European electrions. Since then, I have had nothing through the post and there have been two local and regional elections.
I hope this doesn't affect my UK referendum voting rights. My folks say I am still getting UK voting slips throught their door there?!

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

There's no such thing as an NIE card - I suspect you have signed on the list of foreigners and have a green card to show this.

Yep, you can get a proxy or a postal vote.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

NIE number then....mister pedant.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

If you check out the link I put on earlier in the thread register to vote once you complete the registration it should tel! You how to vote from outside UK.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

OK people. I went on line to aboutmyvote.co.uk and filled in a simple form and got a reference number by return e mail. This direct me to my previous electoral registration office in the UK (Bristol City Council). Went to their website, filled in the form and received the simple papers from them in a few days. Sent these back and received by return my registration etc so I can now vote. Absolutely no problems whatsoever so simple.

Remember it does not matter whether you are for staying in or out this is important - get your vote.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

The only thing you must do for a postal vote is to post it in time to arrive by 10pm on polling day - and given the vagaries of Spanish postal system this could be your biggest challenge.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Wouldn't it be nice if all the Spanish living and working in EU countries had the same (easy) rights. They have to beg for their vote!

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Lost me on that one surely the referendum is to see what the citizens of Britain want? What you suggest is bit like expecting turkeys to get a vote on retaining Christmas. If Spain had a vote on in or out of the EU do you realy think expats would be included? In Spain expat residents only vote in regional elections, to vote in National elections you must hav citizenship. From that I feel the UK stance on this referendum is correct.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Hi guys,

Sorry, I might be out of touch and read with interest, but how did this referendum come about? Did Cameron wake up one morning and think 'let's have an In/Out vote? I can't recall some of the 70 million Britons pressing him to have a referendum.

Is he still on a high from the Scottish 'No' vote and fancies his chances of a double 'We're stronger in' helping a Conservative re-election in due course?

How would he complete his hat-trick?

Bo

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I think that the Lib/dems made it a condition of supporting the coalition in the previous administration. I assume he made the promise in such a way that he could not go back on it even if he got a majority and did not need them.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I think it was more that UKIP had got a lot of support which pressured him into offering a referendum . which has been promised before I seem to remember Blair he would give one but renaged later? I suppose on a positive Cameron stuck with it, of course it could prove a disaster for him we may vote out or it could end up ripping his party apart. It can't be ignored that a lot of people in the UK want out of the EU. Yes it may be stirred up by the likes of Farage and the media but many are not happy with it.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Yes, but I just can't recall many millions of Brits demanding a Brexit vote over the last three Parliaments. I remember loads of Scots demanding such for a vote on devolution and they were obliged.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I don't disagree with you but the whole EU thing has been simmering for many years. Not sure how many actual supporters UKIP has but a fair number and the fact their sole aim is independence for the UK from Europe says something. Lib Dems and Tories I think got rattled by the surge in support and saw the referendum as a way of getting some of those votes and quelling a rising popularity. It may be that Cameron was panicked into it and my live to regret it? I actually think the public did want to vote on this issue and I don't see the Scottish referendum had anything to do with it totally seperate.oddly Scots nationalist want independence from UK but to be tied to EU . I don't know the answer to why Cameron held referendum just putting a view on it however I do think it is time for one given the huge fairly recent changes in the EU.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

It has been in their manifesto for the last two parliaments, and I suspect that while they were in coalition then they had to also see the LibDems points of view as well, once he had a majority he did say it would be during this parliament, and originally the date was 2017.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

I suspect that it also had something to do with the flack he received on not cancelling proposals on a referendum on the Lisbon treaty after 2010, but since Gordon Brown had already signed the treaty before he got bundled off into the boondocks this would have been an entirely pointless and illegal exercise (not that this prevented the popular press from raising a stink but since when did the truth spoil a good story). Also Cameron did not have a majority and the Lib Dems were fiercely pro EU so no chance of getting it through then.

I reckon it really is to appease his EU-sceptic wing of the Tory party in an attempt to put this issue finally to bed - not that it ever will. I sometimes think the Tory party have a death wish - all this internal warfare does not go down well with the electorate.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Yes I totally agree, the Lisbon treaty thing was a red herring as in place so as you say pointless. At least he has stuck to his word and given the referendum this time. I think depending how it goes it may be his undoing but he himself is due to stand down by the end of this term anyway so I suppose more to do with his legacy either way.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

OK, yes, I do seem to remember it being proposed and talked about by certain politicians. But not hoards of Brits screaming for it.

Not really in to politics (can you tell?) so I read up on it and the last time the question was asked was 40 years ago. So a lot of things have changed since that vote and I guess it is right and fair to ask the question again.

The bookies are quoting odds of a 70% chance of staying in and similar to the betting on the Scot vote.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Can we get back on topic please. This thread is about the voting eligibility and process, not a discussion about the referendum itself.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

Actually, I'm just within the 15 years law, so I phoned the local council of where I was last registered in the UK and spoke to the electoral list office. They said I haven't been on their list for at least 15 years, so I have not voting rights. That is probably because we rented out our property for a while and so our tenants put themselves on the list and we were removed from it.

There is a petition that you can sign that might help get our voices heard --- I'll post the details in a new thread.

Re: EU referendum - voting qualifications & process
 

As I've said on another thread, there is no way the government will change things so that the referendum is affected, remember that the original proposed date for the referendum was late 2017, but pressure from Tory MPs and the UKIP effect have caused the referendum to be brought forward. The Private Members bill that is to be debated will get no governemnt support as they have already promised both in their manifesto and in the Queens Speech to introduce their own bill, which will have government appoved wording unlike the Private Members Bill.