Britons Living Abroad Regain Right to Vote in UK Elections

An estimated three million Britons who have been living overseas for more than 15 years have regained their right to vote in UK elections and can register to vote as of Tuesday, January 16, 2024. This change is part of the UK Government’s Election Act, passed in 2022; it ends the "15 year rule" which means that millions of Britons living abroad could now be able to vote in the next general election, the date of which has not yet been set.

Craig Westwood, Director of Communications, said, “This change gives more British citizens living abroad the opportunity to participate in UK Parliament elections, and to contribute to the funding of political parties and campaigns.  

“We know there are eligible voters in every corner of the world so we’re calling on those with friends and family abroad to help spread the news. With a general election likely this year, it is important this newly enfranchised group of voters are aware of the change and can take action. Registering to vote can be done online in just five minutes.”

Brits in Spain

The British Embassy in Madrid is calling on British residents living in Spain to check if they are eligible. Those who have previously lived in or been registered to vote in the UK now have the right to vote in UK Parliament elections. They can register online at gov.uk/registertovote and will need to confirm their personal information every three years.

“This law means that more British citizens living in Spain will now be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary elections, which is good news. We’re asking the British community here to help us spread the word, because it’s important that eligible people are made aware of the changes so that they can register and cast a ballot when the time comes.”—Hugh Elliott, British Ambassador to Spain.

Eligible voters who wish to have their say in parliamentary elections can register at the last constituency in which they were registered or where they have lived if they were not registered before, a step valuable to those who moved abroad as young adults who had never voted in UK elections.

It only takes five minutes to register and voting can be done by post or by proxy. Applicants will need to provide details of the address and time they were last registered or resident. Local authorities must be able to verify an applicant’s identity and past connection to the area.  

Many voters living abroad choose to apply for absent votes. Applications to vote by post or proxy in Great Britain can now also be done online.

Resources

Apply for a postal vote at gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

Apply for a proxy vote at gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.

For answers to frequently asked questions you can go to the British in Europe website as well as the Electoral Commission website.