RIYADH, 15 February 2005 — British expatriates in the Kingdom have been asked to register before March 11 for the upcoming UK elections and referendum, the British Embassy announced on Sunday.
“The Electoral Commission has launched a campaign reminding citizens living abroad that they need to be on the electoral register to vote in the UK elections and referendums,” according to Barrie Peach, the Embassy Press and Political Officer. He explained that if a UK Parliamentary general election were to be called for May 5, electors would need to register by March 11. Some 30,000 Britons live in the Kingdom and the majority of them are eligible voters.
British citizens living abroad but who have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years can apply to be overseas voters. If they were too young to register when leaving the UK, their parent or guardian must have been registered, Peach explained.
An electoral registration form can be found on the Electoral Commission’s voter information site — www.aboutmyvote.co.uk — which also contains clear details of how to register as an overseas voter. The completed registration form should be returned to the electoral registration office at the UK address where the individual was last registered to vote.
When overseas voters register, they can also apply to vote by post if they want a ballot sent to them or by proxy if they want someone else to vote on their behalf. Overseas voters are eligible to vote in elections for the UK Parliament and also for the European Parliament.
According to Angela Salt, the Communication Director of the Electoral Commission, it is important that people realize that they must be on the electoral register in order to vote. An Electoral Commission circular addressed to all overseas British missions said, “We are urging eligible British citizens living abroad to act so they don’t lose their right to vote.”
