For not voting in the election

[Copenhagener]

Fairly straightforward issue, but getting two very different answers so I thought I’d throw it to Mumsnet.

I am a British citizen but I’ve lived in another country for 5 years and I’m now getting permanent residency here. My partner is my new country’s nationality and my child will be too (still baking!). I don’t intend to move back to the U.K. ever and have no real connections left there.

Is it unreasonable for me to not vote in the upcoming U.K. general election?

My opinion is that I shouldn’t be voting for issues that don’t impact me and my life; and when I won’t move back. AIBU?

Other people have said it’s my civic duty to vote if I still hold British citizenship, regardless of where I live. Especially in an important election.

What does Mumsnet think? Would be great to hear from other emigrants too.

Rude = empirical evidence in some instances.
Obv not everyone
But principle remains

Again, what YOU believe is better for everyone.

I always think this is such an immature thing to do.

People had to fight for you to get the right to vote.

I assume you still have relatives and friends in this country and still visit it so think about the party that would be the best for their welfare and future and do your bit...

So I assume you think all UK residents, not just citizens (and a motley assortment of other countries' citizens) should be able to vote in UK elections?

What if OP wants to vote Tory? Or should she only vote if she votes your way?

Please vote.

If you don't, then you may lose the right to.

By voting you contribute to a number of people in your position who DO want to keep voting, and ensure that they can be heard too.

If people in your position stop voting, eventually the powers that be will take away the privilege because they will decide that nobody in your position cares - when some definitely do.

Do you get a vote? My dh is English, has lived in Ireland for past 15 years, he is still a British citizen. He always thought he no longer got a vote in the general election because he is no longer resident there or a UK tax payer. He will be raging if he finds out he could have voted all along

You can register to vote in the constituency you last lived in before going abroad.
(Paying tax has nothing to do with eligibility to vote.)

I've lived abroad since 1994 and have just got my right to vote back with the change in legislation. @dulra, it changed at the end of last year for those of us who have been abroad longer than 15 years. You need to apply to the electoral office of the last constituency you were living in.

So my vote that people think I shouldn't have will help get 30p Lee out. You can thank me later.

I can't vote in all elections in Italy (not in General Elections for example)

@Copenhagener Personal choice, but I'd say there are many things that will still affect you, now, and in the future, that you might not have factored in.

Yes vote Tory, because they have ALL of our best interests at heart 🙄

I live in Denmark and don’t even know any other British people here. Odd assumption to make that I’m in Spain in a gated community. I do love a roast though, but I’ve never seen one available here!

Great, I have just informed him. He is too late to register for this general election.

I can't vote in all elections in Italy (not in General Elections for example)
Same for him in Ireland he can only vote in local elections. He does think he will get Irish citizenship anyway but he has felt the loss of not being able to vote

Thanks for the feedback all.

I’m still feeling torn.

I’ve not been back to the U.K. since I left, and my family were strong Brexit / UKIP voters. They now are Reformers - so I wouldn’t be voting in their interest. I’ve always voted Green or Lib Dem in the past, but I’m aware it’s generally a wasted vote in my old constituency (Cambridge).

I don’t intend to even try to take my very small pension (won’t be available for decades anyway), and I have nothing to inherit from family or any bank accounts still open in the U.K., but I do feel very sad about how the Conservatives have damaged the U.K. and think it’s time for a change - they were one of the reasons I left England in the first place.

Some really good points from others I hadn’t considered and I’ll think about them today a lot.

Thanks everyone!

Here we go with this absolute scaremongering nonsense. All labour are doing is keeping things as they are rather than handing out more tax cuts and extra money to pensioners.

why shouldn’t your generation be paying and contributing more to the country? How much more do you want young working people to contribute to pay for your pensions and your NHS and your social care. Your generation has broke and bankrupt this country but hell will freeze over before you gladly contribute towards fixing it.

I did not assume you were in a gated community. I was merely making a point

If you are paying tax in a country, you should bet a vote in that country
If an ex-pat, no vote in your 'home' country

Do you mean, in an ideal world you should? Because this is not in fact the rule in the uk or any other country I've lived in.

I worked and paid income tax (and every other tax) here for around 10 years before I naturalised and was able to vote.

There are so so many people in this country who are working and paying tax but can't vote.

It makes it doubly unfair for those people if expats elsewhere vote remotely in the uk election. I know they're entitled to. But in my opinion it isn't fair

Edit - I'm agreeing with the poster I'm quoting, if that isn't clear!

Do you know that you are definitely registered to vote if you’ve been living abroad for five years? Do you have an overseas declaration or proxy or postal vote set up? If not then this a moot thread because it’s now too late to register to vote unless you apply for an emergency proxy and even there there are criteria:

In England, Scotland and Wales, you have until 5pm on the day of the election to apply. Fill in a paper form to:

1. apply to vote by emergency proxy based on your employment
2. apply to vote by emergency proxy based on a medical emergency or disability
3. apply to vote by emergency proxy because you do not have an available photo ID

Send it to your local Electoral Registration Office.

You can do whatever you like, no judgements should be made! The beauty of a democratic country.

Yes you are unreasonable

Brexit!

Ex pats living in Europe, but voting to leave the EU. The stupidity was staggering.

I'm in your situation and chose not to vote, helped by the fact I can see no good choices.
DH is in the same situation and did vote.
I don't think either choice is wrong.

This idea of expats living in Europe and voting to leave the EU is a tabloid myth.

I’ve lived in Spain for the last 20 years. I’ve worked and paid tax ever since I moved here but I don’t have the right to vote in Spanish general elections or European elections, only local ones. I didn’t have the right to vote in the Brexit referendum either. This year I have voted in the UK general election because the rules have changed.

Incidentally I don’t live in a gated ‘Brit enclave’ on the Costa del Sol, wear green speedos or drink at pubs called the Red Lion. FFS.

Well, if you’re not coming back you could continue to vote Green. At least when they do away with our nuclear defence capabilities it won’t matter if we are turned into a wasteland by the Kremlin.

I didn’t say all ex pats were stupid. My father is though, and he supported Brexit.