Retired in Euskadi

A friend has just sent me a message saying that the 15 year rule after which one is not allowed to vote in UK elections has been abolished.
Is it true?
I've seen nothing in the press about it.

spainrico

Yes its true - I had an email this morning from UK Gov - Embassy madridSpread the word! More Brits in Spain can now vote in the UK



Madrid, Tuesday 16 January 2024



British citizens living abroad are now eligible to register to vote in UK general elections, regardless of how long they’ve been living outside the UK. A new law has removed the previous 15-year time limit.



Supporting the awareness raising campaign of the UK’s Electoral Commission, the British Embassy in Madrid is calling on British residents living in Spain to check if they are eligible. The Commission is the independent and impartial organisation that oversees elections in the UK.



Those who have previously lived in or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK Parliament elections. They can register online at www.gov.uk/registertovote and will need to confirm their personal information every three years. Anyone on a UK electoral register is also considered a permissible donor to UK political parties and campaigners.



British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott said:



“This law means that more British citizens living in Spain will now be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, which is good news. We’re asking the British community here to help us spread the word, because it’s important that eligible people are made aware of the changes so that they can register and cast a ballot when the time comes.”





It only takes five minutes to register and voting can be done by post or by proxy. Applicants will need to provide details of the address and time they were last registered or resident. Local authorities must be able to verify an applicant’s identity and past connection to the area.



More information is available on the Electoral Commission’s website. Voters living overseas can find contact details for the relevant local council by entering the postcode of the last place they lived in the UK, using the Commission’s postcode lookup tool.

snikpoh

True, in the press now

https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com...31/expats.html

bobd22

I got an email confirming the change this morning also registration to vote is only required every 3 years rather than every year. I only renewed mine 2 weeks ago so presume I will have to renew next year and then it will be 3 years after that. I always get a reminder anyway when I need to renew.

Mark604

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-67993306

bob_bob

So you pack up and migrate to a new country and want the right in the country you left? Thats a bit cake and eat it in my opinion...when you leave your leave your right to vote behind.

Finknottle

And then a vote takes place that seriously affects your situation and status.

Fred James

Not being able to vote on Brexit for example!

BuckinghamshireBoy

Go through the Electoral website stuff, if you 'pass' verification it will hand you off to your local constituency website, they will subsequently get in touch.

Knowing that the change was coming, I went through this in November 2023 and received the following from 'my local' CC:

Note to Fred James - and this is not sour grapes - this whole thing is way bigger than Brexit.

bobd22

Seeing as people like myself pay most of their tax to the UK why shouldn't we be allowed to vote for who spends that and make financial decisions that may affect them? If you don't wish to vote then this change doesn't affect that just don't apply to vote .

bobd22

I'm not sure this would change that Fred. As it was a referendum they specified who could and couldn't vote. This change specifies specifically allowed to vote in General Elections ?

Finknottle

The voting (& eligibility) criteria were / are the same - hence the legal cases that were brought.

bobd22

Thanks I stand corrected

DLC

If you're still a British citizen why not? If it's about taxes, many emigrants still pay taxes. Or perhaps low earners in the UK who don't pay taxes should be stripped of the vote? (Maybe I shouldn't give them ideas...)

bobd22

I tend to agree with you. I mentioned taxes because I have no choice but to pay tax on most of my income to the UK. Of course being resident in Spain we pay income tax but can only vote in local elections and not the national elections so yes I get your point. As you say we are still British citizens and although living abroad many will have interests in the UK that could be adversely affected by a particular party being the governing party . I think this is a good thing for expats not just in Europe but worldwide. Everyone will have their own view on it some may well not bother to register and vote which is their choice.