Brighton67

I'm a recent Spanish resident - just over a year now. When I left the UK I took my name off the electoral roll (this was a requirement from my removal's company to avoid tariffs). I don't have a property anymore in the UK but I do use my brother's address as my point of contact. Does anybody know if people like me are allowed to vote in the general election? If so, I'm assuming I better hurry up and register as its less than 6 weeks away. Thanks

kev1n

When I applied for my vote they asked for my previous registered address and my new Spanish address.

EsuriJohn

you can definitely register to vote and it will now be a lifetime registration.

bobd22

I'm not sure you get a one off lifetime registration John? I think you still have to re register every so many years all be it you can now continue to do that over the old 15 year limit. I recently renewed mine as I got an email telling me I had to re register. I think i am now registered for 2 or 3 more years. My local authority in UK Morpeth Northumberland always contact us when we need to renew .

bobd22

Here's link with information re registering to vote .

https://www.gov.uk/voting-when-abroad

tebo53

Why do you consider it important to vote in a countries election when you don't (want to) live there?

Steve

bobd22

For me because I pay most of my tax in the UK and rent out a property so although living in Spain what government do can still affect me. I seem to remember this was discussed a while back and yep lots of different opinions. We are allowed to vote for life given recent change so why shouldn't we ? Obviously it's a choice thing not compulsory either way.
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Casa Santo Estevo

1)Because the UK allows us to.
2) We Brits cannot have a democratic say in Spanish National or autonomous community elections. We live here.
3) Because we Brits cannot have our democratic say in the EU elections. We live here.

Note for point one the UK is not the only country that allows this..
Note for point 3 a number of populations located way outside of the EU are also allowed to vote for the EU parliament. To name but two Nouvelle-Calédonie or Curaçao

growinspain

I vote for in my local, state and for presidential elections every time since i have lived in Europe - 27 years...
I am even allowed to vote in the French elections thru marriage and a French passport...
I always thought that the rule from the UK was not keeping up with today's needs for their passport holders.
FYI - Brexit still would have passed if you all had the chance to vote.

mikelincs

You can vote in EU and local elections in Spain

DLC

British citizens resident in Spain can only vote in Spanish local elections and UK general elections.

Rosemary

This was discussed recently here. Voting rights in UK after 15 years

As the poster has been provided with the necessary information and the thread is now similar to the previous one I will close this thread.

Rosemary