Living Abroad Magazine
Election Fever? How to Vote When You Live Abroad
There was something quintessentially British about Election night back in 1997. Whatever side of the political fence you were on, anyone who stayed up late to watch the results couldn’t have failed to be amused. A seven foot transvestite candidate, Miss Money Penny’s Glamorous One Party, campaigned on the slogan “Tat for Tatton” and he/she towered over Neil Hamilton and Martin Bell whilst the returning officer announced the results. All delightfully eccentric, wonderful drama and worth the BBC licence money for the election coverage alone.
If you were living overseas at the time then you probably would have missed this comedy with a political edge - for some people living abroad British politics do not mean much any more. If, however, you are concerned about public affairs and you plan on moving abroad, you may wish to ensure that amongst all the organisation and packing of boxes, you also remember to register so you can vote.
Will You Be Eligible To Vote?
According to the Electoral Commission, if you are a British citizen living abroad you can apply to be an overseas voter. As long as you have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you are able to vote overseas.
You are eligible to vote in elections for the UK and European parliaments but you cannot vote in UK local and devolved assembly elections. If you are living in a member state of the European Union, you can vote in their own local and European parliamentary elections. You cannot however vote in European elections in more than one country.
Will You Want to Vote?
On the Electoral Commission’s website they answer the question Why Vote? They stress all the obvious reasons on why we should do so, that the decisions made on our behalf such as health care and education, to global issues like defence and environment are all very important. Of course they are. A strong and stable democracy relies on people using their votes. However, in the UK General Election in 2001 only 59% of those eligible to do so voted. There are a variety of explanations from apathy to a growing trend away from participating in the traditional institutions of democracy, and for people to make their voice heard though a mixture of forms of direct action.
As for those living abroad the situation becomes more complex. In a straw poll of expatriates it seems many do not exercise their right to vote, but for a different set of motives. In short, despite being well informed adults (after all these are folk who have had the courage to up sticks and move countries) when it comes to voting it is yet one more form to be completed.
How British Do You Feel?
Christine Carey, an expat, lamented “by the time I have worked through the myriad of papers and permits for living here, registered with new doctors, found childcare and sorted out work and taxes from living in previous countries, registering to vote just seems to have slipped down to the bottom of the list”. In fact she admits that she has had the voter registration form sat in her in-tray for four years. Despite this she does keep up with what’s going on back at home with online daily bulletins from news websites.
Isla Kaelin from Scotland who has been living overseas for so long that she has now lost her eligibility to vote said; “Even when I could vote, I never did. I was more interested in the politics of the country I had moved to, I never kept up with British politics”. As she now has dual nationality through marriage she says she would rather get involved with the politics of her adopted country, feeling the outcome would affect her more.
Nicola Bedlington who has lived in Belgium and now in Switzerland admits that she hasn’t voted, not because she is apathetic about politics but more to do with “not getting my act together in time to register”. She wonders also whether despite the many issues that do need addressing in the UK, on the whole the system isn’t too bad to fire her to put her cross on the ballot paper.
Some expats don’t really know if they feel British enough to vote anymore. Visiting home they may stock up on Christmas crackers and bring back the occasional tin of Bird's custard powder but that is about as far as they get to a link with the UK.
Not everyone feels like this of course. John Shepherd has been an expat for five years and says that even though he isn't in the country he still reads what is happening and doesn’t feel he can criticise or moan about what’s going on if he doesn’t vote and make his voice heard. His chosen party, the Conservatives, are actively encouraging overseas voters, and he thinks it possible that one day he might eventually return home so wants to ensure he has played his part for his return.
The other main parties also recognise the importance of overseas voters as they could make all the difference in marginal constituencies. The Labour Party has links abroad through the Labour International Organisation and say they promote the party wherever a person may be living. The Liberal Democrats say they too are promoting voting in the social clubs and areas where expatriates meet abroad.
Here To Help
The Electoral Commission acknowledges that communicating with potential overseas voters is difficult. There is a lack of information available to them on the numbers and location of British expatriates but do say that ‘they are going to be running an awareness campaign by sending press releases to British posts and placing articles in British expatriate media.‘
To make things easier they have produced a form specifically for overseas electors to register to vote. This is available on their website and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are ‘also working to distribute the form.‘
When you arrive in a new country it isn’t compulsory to register with a British Consulate or Embassy in a foreign country and only encouraged if it is in a dangerous area. As embassies don’t actively promote voting, the onus is really down to the individual to source their own information.
So, if you too are inspired to vote in any future elections whether it is for any of the major parties or even one such as the Teddy Bear Alliance party (yes, this was another party back in 1997 - the candidate was Edward Bear) then the following should help.
So How Do I Vote?
The first step is to register as an overseas voter.
Go to the website www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and on it you will find the section, How do I register? Here there is a section for British Citizens Living Overseas and you can download and fill in the relevant forms. There are contact details for your electoral registration office (where you were last registered to vote in the UK). The website gives information on all the democratic institutions including recent election results
You can then elect to vote in one of three ways.
- By post: if you want your ballot paper sent to you. However, you should be aware that it will be sent to you about a week before the election, so you need to consider whether there is enough time to receive your ballot paper, mark your vote and return it before 10 pm on election day. Ballot papers that arrive after this time will not be counted.
- By proxy: if you want someone else to vote on your behalf. Your proxy must be aged 18 or over, a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen and be living in the UK. Your proxy can either vote at the polling station for the area where you are registered, or by post. A proxy form is available on the website.
- In person: if you are in the UK on election day. You can only vote at the polling station where you are registered to vote in the UK. You are not able to vote at your local embassy or consulate. You cannot vote in person if you or your proxy have applied to vote by post.
Another useful site is www.electoralcommission.org.uk The Electoral Commission is an independent body that was set up by the UK Parliament to increase public confidence in the democratic process within the United Kingdom, and to encourage people to take part.
The Electoral Commission, Treveleyan House, Great Peter Street, London
Tel 020 7271 0500/Fax 020 7271 0528
Catherine Nelson-Pollard is a writer who has lived and worked in seven countries. She has just registered to vote for the first time whilst living abroad.
