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Original poster

to urge expat MNers to register for a proxy vote

31 replies

WeshMaGueule · 05/09/2019 22:03

Post edited by MNHQ at OP's request Many British people living overseas were unable to vote in the referendum and European elections due to delays with postal votes. If there is a snap election coming, can I urge you all to register for a proxy vote? And you might like to know that your proxy can be anywhere in the UK as long as they in turn then register for a postal vote eleven days ahead of the election. You can also ask a Commonwealth citizen resident in the UK to be a proxy. See here for more details: www.britonsvotingabroad.co.uk/votingfromabroad/

OP posts:
flyingspaghettimonster · 06/09/2019 02:48

This would be great, but not sure we qualify ... we haven't been out of UK over 15 years, but it is close, and although we were over 18 when we left I don't think we were registered to vote. I remember voting once... I uave no idea my national insurance number either. Lost the card decades ago. Going to have to explore this further... a proxy is an amazing idea.

7salmonswimming · 06/09/2019 02:57

Yeah, no. You can do all of that, weeks ahead of time, and you’ll still receive a reminder to register a day before the voting date because you’re not in their system. It’s been shambolic each time I’ve done the paperwork, the council are so bloody slow none of the paperwork gets done on time.

slashlover · 06/09/2019 05:37

And you might like to know that your proxy can be anywhere in the UK (in a marginal constituency for instance) as long as they in turn then register for a postal vote eleven days ahead of the election.

Wait, someone who decided to move abroad can end up having a bigger say in our elections than someone who actually lives here? Why should someone who decided to be an immigrant ex-pat be allowed to do that? That's a disgrace.

Blueoasis · 06/09/2019 05:43

Nah sorry but they moved. Why should they get a say? We live here, they decided not to.

sergeilavrov · 06/09/2019 05:46

I’ve voted by proxy for years as I spend a lot of time working abroad, and the poll card has to be submitted at my polling station and has the details of my constituency on, regardless of the person who has submitted it for me eg poor father who lives on the other end of the country Confused

Can you show us where you found it can be counted anywhere? Seems like that would be a bizarre loophole.

Dogsarebetterthancatsok · 06/09/2019 05:49

Are you assuming everyone will vote the way you want them to vote?

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/09/2019 05:54

Dogsare
I imagine a lot of people abroad especially living in Europe won’t be voting for the Brexit or nasty party.

Unhomme · 06/09/2019 05:56

And you might like to know that your proxy can be anywhere in the UK (in a marginal constituency for instance)

I think you may be unintentionally misinterpreting the guidance OP.

Your proxy can 'live' anywhere in the UK but will need to vote in the constituency that the expat is registered in (and they cannot choose to register in a marginal area because they feel like it, the rules are clear on where the registration should be for).

Original poster
WeshMaGueule · 06/09/2019 06:11

Unhomme, ah you might be right on that, I'll have to look into it a bit more.

Flyingspaghettimonster, only applies to those away for under fifteen years I'm afraid.

Those of you complaining about how British electoral law works, sorry, I don't make the rules shrug

Though I will point out that a) Britain is in the minority in Europe in even having a cut-off point, most places let expats vote for life and some even have special MPs for overseas nationals and b) Cameron committed to lifting the fifteen-year restriction in the manifesto prior to the referendum but then didn't.

OP posts:
KatherineJaneway · 06/09/2019 06:15

Are you assuming everyone will vote the way you want them to vote?

This ^^

Dogsarebetterthancatsok · 06/09/2019 06:17

mummyoflittledtagon

Nasty party? Oh, Labour, you mean? Ok

soulrunner · 06/09/2019 06:36

Unless your proxy literally only has to go to one polling station (the one they'd go to anyway) it's a bit of an ask tbh. I did register (for GE 2015 I think) but then I would have needed to find someone (1) prepared to go to Bermondsey on polling day when they don't live there or work there and (2) who I trust enough and am sure enough of their own politics to ask them to do it. Even then you can do a tonne of admin and then they get stuck at work and don't go. Plus huge Labour majority so doesn't really matter if I do or not.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/09/2019 06:39

Dogs
No I mean the tories.

missclimpson · 06/09/2019 06:40

My daughter has my proxy vote. She is nowhere near our old constituency, but gets a proxy vote form to complete and put in the post several days before. You need to be registered to vote and trigger the proxy.
It has worked fine for us.

Original poster
WeshMaGueule · 06/09/2019 06:53

I'd expect a proxy to vote the way I asked them to. Of course I'd expect most expats to vote in a way to support Remain, though I do know a handful of Europe-based Leavers. But I'm surprised people who are so keen on parliamentary democracy aren't more up in arms about voters being deprived of their legal right to vote by the vagaries of the postal system.

OP posts:
sergeilavrov · 06/09/2019 06:57

Could you ask Mumsnet to edit your post? It’s quite misleading, specifically the part where you say that voters can register in any constituency, and this type of thing gets out of hand quite quickly. Always good to avoid misinformation!

I think you’d be surprised how expats vote; you’ll mind many pro-Brexit voters even in Europe, and many Middle East based voters are Conservatives.

FreyaMountstuart · 06/09/2019 06:58

I live and work overseas. I have a postal vote (confirmed) as do my Brit co-workers and I think you’ll find we see a vote for Corbyn / liberals or SNP as a better choice than the current incumbent (i.e. whatever is best for a remain vote).

Original poster
WeshMaGueule · 06/09/2019 06:59

Good point, will do sergei

OP posts:
NearlyGranny · 06/09/2019 07:05

We were abroad for a year on an exchange programme for the whole of '97 and voted by proxy. You do have to totally trust your nominated person, of course! Ours was the village vicar who was also Godparent to dd1. I remember him saying how great it felt to walk into the polling station with 5 votes to cast (he was proxy for another couple, too.) Good job nobody was cancelling anybody out!

I think the Tories introduced legislation about expats voting rights backalong, possibly in Thatcher times, hoping the retirees in Spain, France etc would help keep them in power, but I'm no expert; nor am I expat, now!

Clangus00 · 06/09/2019 07:31

Sorry you spelled Immigrants/Emigrants wrongly in your header.

RHTawneyonabus · 06/09/2019 07:39

Your Proxy will have to register postal vote for your constituency which must be the last place you were registered in the UK. You can’t pick or choose.

If you were under 18 when you left the country you can register to vote using your parents or guardians registration.

RHTawneyonabus · 06/09/2019 07:42

There is also a limit on the number of people one person can be proxy for. I think it’s two.

missclimpson · 06/09/2019 07:44

I have read that as it may be a shorter notice than normal for an election, there may be (even) more of a problem getting postal votes out. It has been an issue here in rural France for a long time and a lot of people have missed out. Proxy / postal proxy is safest I think.

chemenger · 06/09/2019 07:55

We had proxy votes for the European election when postal votes wouldn’t have got to us and back on time. Cost a small fortune to get the form in on time because the council said only paper applications would do (even though they later took an emailed form from someone else we know). So do it now if you can. My daughter voted for us when she went to vote herself.

Not all Expats are emigrants. Our US visas are specifically non/immigrant visas, when I was there I was being paid in the Uk and paying tax and NI, and council tax on our house. Many people work abroad temporarily and do not see themselves as emigrants.

Icantthinkofanynewnames · 06/09/2019 07:58

"Nah sorry but they moved. Why should they get a say? We live here, they decided not to."

What an absolutely moronic comment. I am living abroad temporarily, so I don't get a vote in what happens in the country of my birth, the country where I have lived, worked, paid taxes my whole life? Shut up and go away.