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Britons in France need to renew voter registration to remain on electoral lists
British MPs have voted 346 to 166 against a review into how voting from overseas can be made easier
Britons who registered to vote in UK elections from abroad after new ‘votes for life’ rules took effect in 2024 must renew their registration to avoid falling off the electoral register.
It comes as UK MPs have voted against a review into how voting from overseas can be modernised.
For many years the UK’s ‘15-year rule’ meant Britons who moved abroad lost their right to vote after 15 years. A longstanding Conservative promise to abolish this was finally fulfilled on January 16, 2024.
Current rules say any adult Briton may register to vote in the last constituency in which they were registered (or, if never registered, lived), as long as they have lived in the UK at some point in their lives.
Those whose overseas registration first took effect between January 16 and October 31, 2024 should soon be contacted by their electoral registration officer by letter or email, reminding them to renew by November 1 using a nine-digit access code.
Those who do not renew by the deadline will be removed from the electoral register and would then have to make a fresh application, involving new eligibility checks.
Postal or proxy voting arrangements are also tied to overseas registration and expire at the same time, so overseas electors need to reapply for a postal vote or refresh their proxy arrangement when renewing.
A proxy vote may be the more secure option from abroad, as postal delays can prevent postal votes arriving in time to be counted.
Anyone who believes that they are due to renew but who does not receive a reminder should contact the electoral registration office linked to their last UK address.
Why are Britons being asked to re-register now?
This is because the ‘votes for life’ reform that came into force in January 2024 created a three-year renewal cycle for overseas electors.
However, this does not necessarily mean three full 12-month periods, as registrations expire on the third November 1 following registration.
That is why people who registered in the months after ‘votes for life’ came into force should renew by November 1, 2026.
MPs vote against review of voting from overseas
A new Representation of the People Bill is going through parliament, however, it contains little to help voters overseas – and the UK’s MPs last week rejected proposals to hold a review into how voting overseas could be improved.
During debate on the bill, a Liberal Democrat led amendment calling for measures such as downloadable ballots and internet or telephone voting was discussed but not put to the vote.
A Conservative led amendment, which proposed an independent review be held into how the UK can increase registration and participation by Britons abroad was debated but then voted down 346 to 166.
Those in favour included 93 Conservatives, 62 Lib Dems and five from Reform, while those voting against included five Green MPs, eight SNP, four from Plaid Cymru and 323 Labour MPs.
The Conservatives had argued that voters overseas are the “most disenfranchised section of the electorate” due to the unreliability of postal ballots being received and sent back in time to count.
Speaking in favour of his amendment, Lib Dem Freddie van Mierlo said it had around 50 cross-party signatures and he argued for a feasibility study covering such options as embassy/consulate voting, printable ballots, telephone/electronic voting, earlier despatch of ballots and improved proxy arrangements.
He cited an overseas voter living in France whose postal ballot arrived the day after polling day.
The bill, which also includes lowering the voting age for UK general elections to 16, will be debated by the Lords from Monday September 14.
