British expats should be able to vote in the next general election in the UK.

British expats should be able to vote in the next general election in the UK. | Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter

Humphrey CarterPalma20/04/2023 12:51
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Conservative MP and Deputy Speaker of the House, Sir Roger Gale, who has for decades championed the rights of British expatriates, has been informed that British expats will be given the right to vote for life ahead of the next general election in the UK.

Former PM Tony Blair introduced a 15 year cap for the expat vote in the UK, however, it appears that it is finally going to be scrapped.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook OBE stated in a letter to Sir Roger this week “the current intention remains that votes for life will be delivered ahead of the next General Election. The secondary legislation to deliver the overseas electors change is expected to be made and come into force in January 2024.

“Currently, eligible British citizens living overseas can apply to be on the electoral register in the local authority where they were last registered. To register as an overseas elector an individual must be a British citizen resident outside the UK who:
• Has been registered to vote in UK Parliamentary Elections as resident in the UK within the previous 15 years, OR
• Left the UK when they were too young to have registered to vote, provided their parent or guardian was registered at the place where they were last resident in the UK. This is also subject to a 15-year limit, from when the individual left the UK.

Going forward, an individual applying to register as an overseas electors will apply to register in respect of:
• the last UK address at which they were registered, or
• if they were never registered, the last UK address at which they were resident.
Currently, those who were too young to be registered to vote when they left the UK can rely on a parent/guardian’s previous registration. Going forward the intention is that those who were too young to be registered to vote when they left the UK will instead be eligible to vote by virtue of their own previous residence in the UK. They will not need to rely on a parent’s previous registration or residence.


The Government is currently working on the secondary legislation that will set out these processes. This will be brought forward at an appropriate juncture, ensuring that there is
sufficient time for Parliamentary scrutiny and for voters and those who administer elections to
understand the changes and prepare accordingly.”