Voting in UK elections
 

It is the time to renew at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote . I have not managed to successfully vote in a UK election yet as they tend to send the postal ballots out late. Has anyone else successfully voted in any UK or EU elections since moving to the US?

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

Yes, I got a postal proxy set up for my cousin in the UK and she votes for me. I trust that she does vote how I wish!

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

I was going to vote in the general election last year but didn't get around to filling the forms in. They emailed recently to remind me to do it... not sure that I can be arsed though. I'm pretty sure that you have to vote in the last constituency in which you were registered and for me that's a safe seat, so it's not really worth the time it would take.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

I used to be able to vote with my brother voting as a proxy for me. But after a certain number of years out of the country (cant remember how many - 12???) you are not allowed to vote anymore, so I can no do so.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

I would assume the upcoming EU referendum is also open to non-resident citizens?

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

15 years although the Conservatives have pledged to scrap this limit (although not before the EU referendum).

Yes, providing they are registered to vote.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

Yup, it'll be the same electorate as for a General Election.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

[QUOTE=BritInParis;11855635]15 years although the Conservatives have pledged to scrap this limit (although not before the EU referendum).

I think the 15 years starts when you last registered to vote rather than when you left the UK. I left 14 years ago this year, but got a letter a year or two ago saying I could no longer vote.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

Correct, so it's a maximum of 15 years rather than a fixed limit.

Re: Voting in UK elections
 

Sort out a proxy voter, but they either have to vote in the area you were last registered to vote or you have to set them up as a postal voter. Depending on where you last registered to vote, it can be fairly quick and painless, to something that takes a couple of months to organise.

Person responsible in Oxford was really quick and helpful, but realised I never registered to vote back in Oxford after I left uni, so was still in Egham and they were hopelessly slow until I put in an official complaint, then the person was fantastic, quick and helpful so it did take quite a while to organise.

Was my last general election though as it'll be 15 years some time between then and the next one.