How British Expats Can Vote In The UK EU Referendum
- by XpatAthens
- Tuesday, 31 May 2016
The UK's EU referendum will take place on 23 June with a decision of whether or not the UK will stay in the European Union.
To vote 'yes' or 'no' is important for many people, including British citizens living overseas. Here are just a few important facts about the referendum and information on how to vote!
To vote 'yes' or 'no' is important for many people, including British citizens living overseas. Here are just a few important facts about the referendum and information on how to vote!
- An estimated 5.6 million British citizens overseas
- Since 1985, anyone over 18 who has lived abroad for less than 15 years is eligible to vote in British parliamentary and European elections
- British citizens living abroad for more than 15 years are automatically disenfranchised.
Prime Minister David Cameron promised to hold one if he won the 2015 general election, in response to growing calls from his own Conservative MPs and the UK Independence Party (UKIP), who argued that Britain had not had a say since 1975, when it voted to stay in the EU in a referendum. The EU has changed a lot since then, gaining more control over our daily lives, they argued. Mr Cameron said: "It is time for the British people to have their say. It is time to settle this European question in British politics."
What does Brexit mean?
It is a word that has become used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU - merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit, in a same way as a Greek exit from the EU was dubbed Grexit in the past.
Who will be able to vote?
British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK, along with UK nationals living abroad who have been on the electoral register in the UK in the past 15 years. Members of the House of Lords and Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar will also be eligible, unlike in a general election. Citizens from EU countries - apart from Ireland, Malta and Cyprus - will not get a vote.
I am a UK national but I live abroad. Can I vote in the referendum on EU membership this coming June?
Yes, but only if you have not lived abroad for more than 15 years.
What arrangements do I need to make so that I can vote?
All the details can be found here. You must be on the UK electoral roll to be able to register. You will need your national insurance number and passport.
For more information about the UK's EU referendum, please visit: BBC News
For more information on how to vote as a British expat, please visit: Euro News
For more information about the UK's EU referendum, please visit: BBC News
For more information on how to vote as a British expat, please visit: Euro News