Expats banned from voting
- Written by Paul Rees
Did you know that after 15 years abroad expat Britons are banned from voting in UK elections? The http://votes-for-expat-brits.com campaign aims to highlight this inequality and to extend the voting timeline to ‘indefinite’.
The UK’s Institute for Public Policy research estimates that 5.6 million Britons live in countries other than in the UK. Those of voting age are able to vote in UK national elections if they register to do so at their last place of UK residence and if they have not been overseas for more than 15 years.
If you work for HM Government overseas you can still vote even after the 15 year deadline for us plebs. One rule for us, another for them.
National elections
Only in 1985 did the Representation of the People Act extend the right to vote in national elections to British citizens living overseas who had previously been resident in the UK within the previous five years. This period was extended to twenty years in 1989, but was reduced in 2000 to fifteen years with effect from 1 April 2002 where it stays. This 15 year limit seems arbitrary, is clearly discriminatory, and serves no useful political or national purpose.
Our Embassy in Lisbon says:
'British citizens living overseas can indeed register to vote in UK Parliamentary and European elections, provided they have been previously registered in the UK in the past 15 years. The length of the time limit has been changed over the years - from 5 to 20 years, then to 15 years from 1 April 2002, but on each time it considered the issue, Parliament has accepted the view that generally, over time, a person's connection with the UK is likely to diminish if they are living permanently abroad. Nevertheless, the Government is considering whether the 15-year time limit remains appropriate. If a change is proposed, Parliament will need to reconsider the issue'.
Not just for Brits…
According to the legislation of several EU member states, their nationals lose their right to vote in national elections if they have lived in another Member State for a certain periods of time.
Given that EU citizens of member states are not able to participate in any national elections, neither in the state of origin nor in the state of residence, they are deprived of one of their political rights because they have exercised their right to live where they want to.
The exercise of the freedom of movement should not result in losing an important democratic right. The Commission will launch a discussion to identify political options to prevent EU citizens from losing their political rights when they exercise their right to free movement.”
New campaign launched
This http://votes-for-expat-brits.com campaign is headed by a consortium of groups and associations both of a general and political nature.
The campaign’s aims are to enable and encourage all expat citizens, not just a Government and Civil Service elite, to be able fully to participate in the political process in their home country, by giving them unrestricted voting rights in national elections, as in other advanced democracies.
Reasons for being absent
Most British emigrants are abroad for work-related reasons, 55% in 2008. Approximately a quarter are students, and around 20% are pensioners. In fact, British pensioners living abroad represent nearly 10 per cent of all British pensioners.
Most British expats living abroad may be seen as unofficial ambassadors, promoting British values to their host countries. International civil servants, English language teachers, retirees, foreign correspondents of British newspapers, businessmen and businesswomen, governesses all project an image of Britishness. All face a denial of their voting right after 15 years.
Mixed marriages
Mixed-nationality marriages are often a factor in emigration decisions. People who marry someone of a different nationality often choose which of the two countries will become their future home.
The decision of a Spanish-British couple to live in the UK, as in the case of Nick Clegg MP, the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, and his Spanish wife, has no undesirable consequences in terms of expat voting rights, because the Spanish spouse has a lifelong right to vote in Spanish national elections. But a decision made by a similar couple to live in Spain would, under the present legislation, lead to the denial of voting rights to the British spouse after 15 years.
In the IPPR’s view, “Brits abroad are not a burden or an embarrassment: they are in many ways the best of Britain and we should be proud and supportive of them.”
Which European Commissioner is responsible?
The European Commissioner responsible for electoral rights is Mrs Viviane Reding of Luxembourg, Vice-President of the 2010-2014 Commission and the Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
In her Factsheet Promoting your EU Electoral Rights Mrs Reding writes: “Although EU law grants EU citizens the right to participate in municipal and European elections in the Member State where they reside, it provides no such right with regard to national elections.
“Some EU citizens who move to and reside in another Member State may lose their right to take part in national elections in their Member State of origin. According to the legislation of several Member States, their nationals are disenfranchised if they live in another Member State for a certain period of time. Many EU citizens informed the Commission and the European Parliament that they are not able to participate in any national elections, neither in the Member State of origin nor in the Member State of residence.
Support in the House of Lords
Viscount Astor (Conservative) introduced the question “To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider changing the voting arrangements for British citizens residing abroad and members of the Armed Forces serving abroad.” He said “We seem to be the only EU country that does not encourage its citizens living abroad to play an active part in their own country. It is difficult to register and it is difficult to vote. You have to register in the constituency where you last lived in the UK, and you have to prove it, so many do not bother—it is a cumbersome procedure. Through the internet, those living abroad are as close as they have ever been to their home country. It is the same as if they were living here. You can download any national newspaper any morning. You can watch the BBC on a television anywhere in the world. You remain part of your home country and belong to it.
The main groups affected are those who are working abroad, including members of the Armed Forces, and particularly those who have moved or retired abroad. We live in a world where many travel for both short-term and long-term reasons, and their numbers are increasing; but that should not mean that their political rights should not be exercised. The rules are seen to be unfair and totally different from the rules for other EU countries, which not only make it easy but actually encourage their citizens abroad to take part in the democratic process.”
