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UK citizens living overseas get "Vote for Life"

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 3:41pm
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Kimmy11

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I think this announcement must have been overshadowed by the Dominic Cummings' noise this week:

"Votes for Life

"The UK government has announced today that British citizens who have moved abroad will be given ‘votes for life’ as it does away with the 15-year limit on voting rights. 

"All British citizens who are living overseas who have been previously registered or previously resident in the UK will be able to vote in UK Parliamentary General Elections.  

"In addition, the new rules will mean overseas electors can stay registered for longer requiring them to renew their registration details once every three years, rather than annually.  Overseas electors will also be able to reapply for a postal vote or refresh their proxy vote at the same time as renewing their voter registration, streamlining the process and helping to ensure they have appropriate voting arrangements in place ahead of an election. 

"These changes, which will form part of the Elections Bill will come into effect in time for the next scheduled General Election in 2024. 

"UK Nationals living in Spain can also vote in local municipal elections in Spain once they have been resident here for more than three years.  

"For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/votes-for-life-for-british-citizens-living-abroad "

Kind regards, 

Kim

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 6:16pm

Angebadge

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Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 6:16pm

Not that it affects me Kim, but well spotted. I’m supposed to be on numerous gov.uk alerts, but obviously not enough, as I didn't receive this one 😄🤪🥂

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 7:57pm

aitchc1401

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Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 7:57pm

Thanks Kim, good news for citizens abroad!

   Out of interest, how does it work in practice, i.e. in which constituency do the UK citizens abroad vote, their last place of residence in the UK?

Aitch.

Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 11:44pm

Kimmy11

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Posted: Fri May 28, 2021 11:44pm

aitchc1401 wrote on Fri May 28, 2021 7:57pm:

Thanks Kim, good news for citizens abroad!

   Out of interest, how does it work in practice, i.e. in which constituency do the UK citizens abroad vote, their last place of residence in the UK?

 

Read more...

Aitch.

Hi aitch,

I believe that's how it will work going forward, as it does now for those of us who are resident in Spain, but still eligible to vote in the UK.  For example, although we own a property in Hampshire, which we bought after we moved to Spain, we're registered to vote in our former constituency of Surrey Heath, as that's the last place we lived in the UK where we were registered to vote.

Kind regards,  

Kim

Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 9:16am

aitchc1401

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Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 9:16am

Kimmy11 wrote on Fri May 28, 2021 11:44pm:

Hi aitch,

I believe that's how it will work going forward, as it does now for those of us who are resident in Spain, but still eligible to vote in the UK.  For example, although we own a property in Hampshire, which we bought after we moved to Spain, we're registered to vote in our former constituency...

 

Read more...

... of Surrey Heath, as that's the last place we lived in the UK where we were registered to vote.

Kind regards,  

Kim

Thanks for the info.

Aitch.

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