ExPat Voting Rights



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ExPat Voting Rights

It's time to exercise your constitutional right to vote in the next UK election
By Dick Pantlin(Filed: 07/02/2005)

The Electoral Commission, created by Parliament in 2001 with extensive powers, aims to increase public confidence in the democratic process by modernising the electoral process, and by promoting public awareness of electoral matters to encourage people to vote.

It has been looking at the extent to which potential voters were informed in the past and has examined the reasons for low turnouts. Research has shown that most expatriates have no idea of their constitutional voting rights while living abroad, thus explaining the tiny number who have registered; the most recent figure being around 14,000.

British citizens are entitled to register provided that they have been on a UK Electoral Register during the past 15 years (reduced after the last general election from 20 years); after that period, under present legislation, they lose the right to vote.

The Electoral Commission has significantly improved the registration procedure by ensuring that expatriates are well informed of what to do and the reasons for casting their vote.

Until now the official information has been confusing and not widely known. I have been working with the Commission and have ensured that the questions usually asked by expatriates will now receive a convincing answer. This should have an enormous impact on the number who register. In the past many expatriates have not registered because the only practical way to vote is via another person, called a "proxy". This is because the voting papers have to be sent to the expatriate's address abroad by post and returned, duly completed, to reach the UK constituency in time. For many expats this is impossible and it has created the false impression that proxy voting - strongly disliked because it breaches the confidentiality of the vote by informing a third party of voting intentions - was an unnecessarily imposed obligation whereas in fact it is the post problem that makes it unavoidable. Voters who prefer more confidentiality can send their proxy nomination form directly to the political party of their choice. Of course, proxy nominations can be withdrawn at any time, if, for instance, the voter happens to be in the UK on election day. The EU Referendum is also expected in the next year or so, though there is no certainty that expatriates will be permitted to vote since it is the legislation that creates the referendum which states who will have that franchise.

It is expected that many expatriates will wish to have that right and there can be no doubt that a major number of registrations would increase the chances of expatriates being allowed to vote on such an important matter of policy.

It is interesting to note that, with two small exceptions, all the other existing European Union States have no 15-year or similar qualifying restrictions. Their legislation is usually linked to written Constitutions so it would be unthinkable that a period of 20 years would ever have been reduced to 15 years as has been done in the UK, thus disenfranchising many voters without justification or their consent. Successive British governments have not done much to help expatriates and their needs. This will continue unless a huge number of expatriates register before March 11, for the forthcoming general election, thus showing the degree of their concern on such matters. There is only four weeks to get your papers in. There is a real danger that further attempts will be made to considerably reduce the qualifying period - there has been talk of five years, thus disenfranchising most expatriates. One cannot mention this danger without referring to another system: the fact that French expatriates vote for a Special Council which, in turn, itself votes for a number of French Senators.

I have warned before that anything other than a huge increase in registrations may lead one day, following the same reasoning as the reduction to five years, to the loss of a right to a British passport or even to the transmission of nationality. Even if expats do not feel like voting at the moment, it is recommended that they register so they will always have that opportunity. It is surprising that not one expatriate family that has been disenfranchised by the qualifying period has decided to contest this constitutional action in the European Court of Justice. When one realises that a qualifying period does not apply to civil servants because their work automatically requires them to work abroad, surely it is unreasonable to treat them in a different manner to families that, career-wise, must also spend time abroad. This discrimination is in my opinion indefensible.

The Electoral Commission is improving the registration process by ensuring that maximum publicity is given to voting information so that expatriates have ready access to it, explained in user-friendly language. I have been involved in market research to identify the questions usually asked. Information will appear on several web sites, including those of British embassies, High Commissions and consulates. In addition, they will also take steps locally to inform the British communities abroad by press releases etc. The information can be downloaded together with the application forms. Perhaps one day popular pressure and technical progress may enable a voter to return the registration forms via the internet, but that cannot be done at the moment.

I am anxious to stress that this article in no way suggests what party expats should vote for. Both I and the Electoral Commission are totally non-political, but we do feel that everyone should register to vote. It is to be hoped that all political parties will now encourage expatriates to register to do so. It is expected that British Associations and major employers abroad will be asked to play their part to spread this same message now that the procedures will be easy to execute. Modern technology will transform this whole procedure.

Sir Dick Pantlin has been closely involved officially with the Electoral Commission's work on Expatriate Voting (entitled the "Overseas Electorate").

He lives in Belgium and is the founder, past chairman and honorary president of the British School of Brussels, founder Chairman of the Council of British Independent Schools in the EC and of the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Continental Europe. Sir Dick Pantlin alone is responsible for the ideas he has expressed.

How to register onlineBy Dick Pantlin(Filed: 07/02/2005)To register and vote online please follow the instructions below. The form contains both the postal and proxy forms combined: 1) Visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk2) Click on "how do I register" on the right-hand side.

4) Click on the registration form link to download the file (it requires Adobe Acrobat)5) Print out the form (seven pages) and fill in.

This is the town nearest to your last registered UK address. To see a list of EROs for that address, click on the link indicated on the Electoral Commission website, www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Complete all the sections of the forms as required; registration, postal or proxy. This will save time for your ERO.

Please SEND NOW. The general election is expected in May and you must be registered at least six weeks beforehand. You should also take into account postage time.

It may be easier to contact your local British consul (see www.fco.gov.uk, click on "UK Embassies Overseas" for the contact details of the nearest Consul or High Commission) by telephone. They can help you to complete the formalities and put you in touch with a website which carries all the information you need. An additional factsheet, explaining the process, can be located at: www.electoralcommission.org.uk. Further information is also available on the Commission's website.

If you have problems acquiring information e-mail: webmaster@electoralcommission.org.ukIf you wish to make known your views or need assistance, e-mail: info@electoralcommission.org.uk