Overseas Brits Eligible to Vote in UK Elections
In a historic move, millions of Britons living abroad are now eligible to participate in UK general elections following the removal of a longstanding restriction. The UK Parliament ends the 15-year voting limit for overseas citizens in the 2022 Law.
Set to take effect before the upcoming election later this year, this alteration marks the most significant expansion of the electorate since the 1928 law that granted equal voting rights to women and the 1969 decision to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
Under the new law, Britons residing worldwide can now register to vote online, regardless of the duration of their stay abroad. Once registered, they are also granted the right to contribute to political parties and campaigns, in accordance with UK election regulations.
Approximately 233,000 overseas voters were registered for the last election in December 2019, a notable increase attributed to the Brexit context compared to previous contests. The recent legislative change is estimated to enfranchise around 3.5 million people, nearly triple the 1.3 million votes that constituted the winning margin in the 2016 referendum on European Union membership.
This figure is also significant, surpassing the difference in vote totals between the two major parties, the Conservatives and Labour, in five of the last six general elections. However, it's important to note that UK elections operate under the first-past-the-post system, focusing on individual constituencies rather than overall party vote counts.
As the UK gears up for the upcoming election, the expanded voting rights are poised to have a substantial impact on the political landscape, reflecting a more inclusive approach to democratic participation for Britons across the globe.
