UPDATE: Reviews section refreshed, redesigned, searchable: Go take a look
A general election is looming - most guesses are for early May. If you live outside the UK or are likely to be outside the country at that time, register for a proxy or postal vote NOW before it's too late! You complete a form and send it into the electoral officer of the council of your last place of residence in the UK (assuming that was in the last fifteen years). Surprisingly (perhaps), they're pretty efficient about receiving the forms and processing them. The most difficult thing can be finding another UK citizen who can countersign your first application...
Details are here: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx
In practice, it's better to appoint a proxy than get a postal vote: the timeframe available for postal votes is ludicrously short and it won't get there in time. IIRC, each party has someone in each constituency in which they stand who will act as a proxy (to vote for their party only!) at your request.
I'm not exactly sure it's actually fair that someone who doesn't live or pay tax in the UK votes in UK elections when there are plenty of people who live and pay tax in the UK that can't vote, but the system is what it is, so...
thanks.
Interesting option but as an expat I leave you guys to decide who you want.
Doesn't seem right for me to stick my nose in 🙂
If I was thinking of coming back then fair enough but hopefully that will never happen (apart from vacations of course)
I appointed a proxy who is a member of the political party of my choice - the one most likely to oust the incumbent.
Some of us overseas people are (a) employed by a UK co. and making use of the E101/E106 so we still pay social security in UK, and (b) have no legal right to vote in general elections of the country of residence (only local and EU ones). Plenty of people are only overseas for say 1-2 years, so for more than half an electoral term they *are* paying full UK taxes etc.
I agree with Marge. I don't live there or pay taxes there so why should I have the right to vote?
What really gets my goat though is that I have lived in Denmark for 5 years, pay taxes etc but can't vote except in local and EU elections 😡
I appointed a proxy who is a member of the political party of my choice - the one most likely to oust the incumbent.
So did I. Bastard Blairite spineless cow.
