Government delivers on pledge to give back British expats the right to vote
The government today published detailed plans on how it will deliver its commitment to allow all expats to vote in parliamentary elections.
The Minister for the Constitution, Chris Skidmore, announced the policy statement which sets out how the government will remove the current 15-year time limit on British citizens who live abroad registering as overseas electors.
The changes would give all eligible British citizens who have lived in the UK a lifelong right to vote in parliamentary elections. It would mean all eligible overseas electors are able to register to vote quickly and easily, while maintaining the integrity of the electoral register and guarding against fraud.
Chris Skidmore, Minister for the Constitution, said:
This statement shows how we will introduce ‘votes for life’, scrapping the 15-year rule. British citizens who move abroad remain a part of our democracy and it is important they have the ability to participate. Following the British people’s decision to leave the EU, we now need to strengthen ties with countries around the world and show the UK is an outward-facing nation. Our expat community has an important role to play in helping Britain expand international trade, especially given two-thirds of expats live outside the EU.
Expats retain strong links with the United Kingdom: they may have family here, and indeed they may plan to return here in the future. Modern technology and cheaper air travel has transformed the ability of expats to keep in touch with their home country.
This proposed policy is the latest in a series of measures to make it easier for overseas voters to take part in British democracy. During the last Parliament, the government introduced online voter registration, making it quick, easy and secure to register anywhere in the world. The government also took steps to extend the electoral timetable for postal ballots to be issued earlier to ensure that as many electors as possible can participate in their democracy.
Read the policy statement on ‘A democracy that works for everyone: British citizens overseas’.
Notes to editors
- previous research by the IPPR (Global Brit, 2010) has estimated that two-thirds of expats live outside the EU
- copies of the policy statement are available on GOV.UK
- comments on the proposed policy described in this document can be sent to: overseas-electors@cabinetoffice.gov.uk