I don't know if the same system still applies, but certainly 20 years ago you had to go back to your place of birth to vote in Greece. We were once on holiday in Parga at election time and there were boatloads of people arriving so they could vote. Sitting outside a harbourside bar one evening, a bottle came flying out of the door and narrowly whizzed past my OH's head. The owner came dashing out very apologetic and explained that the customers had just been discussing politics!

It used to be the same in Cyprus (it may still be) but you couldn't get a flight in at election time for all the expat Cypriots flying in to vote!

Pity they don't do that in the UK - sometimes the turnout is dire.

Not that it would affect me as I lost the vote long ago!

Absolutely not so..... we lived in Spain for eight years, but always wanted 'something to do' with the Uk, were registered as non-resident voters and voted by proxy. Even if we did not live there, our son did, we cared about what happened to him.

For us it was never meant to be a permanent move, we are back in the UK now.

Just because someone decides to move abroad especially within the EU does not surely mean that you have no interest in your mother country. There will be many who are still financially tied to the UK by having to pay taxes there etc why should they not be able to vote. They have as much interest in parts of any incoming parties manifesto as anyone else. Many people on here will still retain properties in the UK with the various responsibilities and interests due to that what happens in a local area. I feel that some people think because you move to Spain you become Spanish fine if that's what you want but that is not for me. I would love to integrate but would be the first to say I am British and a Foreigner in Spain.

"No taxation without representation" springs to mind. I don't know who said it or why. Is it just an empty slogan?

You could have a point legally, but moraly?

It the boot was on the other foot will hundred of thousands of Spanish who had left Spain but still had a financial interest in the country, were allowed to vote and opted to double taxes for Brits in Spain, thus drving them away, and out voting the Spanish who stayed and made a living out of said Brits ,
Would that be OK?

I dont think so, why should people who dont live there, because they have found somewhere more suited to themsleves, have a say in how the locals who stayed should live, if they are not prepared to live under the same rules that they think is right to impose on others.

Because it is my country, and I care what happens to it, no matter where I live. TBH, when I lived in Spain I always thought that what happened in Spain was up to Spanish people, not to me, although I did vote for the mayor in the local elections.

When you give up the right to live by the rules that the electorate have to live by, you should lose the right to have your say. IMO

Oh well, on this one we will have to agree to disagree, JLFS.

Ok.

All those 'Spaniards' (because they can get dual nationality), second or third generation, who live in Argentina, yet can vote in Spain. This has, in fact, been dropped in the local elections, but remains for the regional and national ones. We, who live here, can't vote; but they, who've often never even stepped foot in Spain, can.
I don't want to vote in the UK, my opinion and my vote would be unfair to them, but... I should have more say here than someone who lives in Buenos Aires who happened to have a Spanish grand-father.

Can I just say the same as Scampicat JLFS I'm afraid I have to disagree but then that is what forums are for discussion which is good and we all have our opinions. If I am paying tax to a country then in my opinion I should be able to have some say in how and who is spending that money.
Just to add though so far I have always voted but to be honest if a snap election was called now I don't think I would have a clue who to vote for there is very little difference between them at the minute all rubbish.

I'm with you, and it's not just a Brit expat thing, it's the same for people of any country that have decided to live in another part of the world. Why should they have any say in what goes on in a country they have no wish to live in themselves?

Maybe because they are citizens of that country? They may still pay taxes in that country? They may own property in that country?

When I lived in Spain,Ii was far more concerned about UK politics than Spanish ones. I didn't think it was any of my business with me how the Spanish chose to run their country. I was just a foreigner.

But maybe that's because I irtended to return to the UK at some point, which I've now done. Perhaps if I intended Spain to be my permanent home I'd have felt differently.

so why should someone who gives up the rules that everyone else lives by, murders, thieves etc etc and ends up in prison have a vote - when the UK disenfranchises after 15 years.

I have yet to hear on here or anywhere else a single word against the tranferrable vote, you take it with you and you vote in the country in which you reside.