Restoration of UK voting for overseas citizens

[echt]

I was thrilled to see this has happened. My old constituency LA was assiduous in keeping in touch about maintaining my registration, and I always voted until it lapsed after 15 years.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/jan/16/britons-living-abroad-regain-right-to-vote-in-uk-elections-as-15-year-rule-ends

Sorry but I don't agree with this.

Why should you get a say on who governs a country you don't live in?

Perhaps because you still have property/finances in the U.K. that are affected by changes in law?

I've never managed to vote even when it was allowed. My LA would send the postal ballot at such short notice I had no chance of getting it back in time. The only way is a proxy postal ballot. For that you need someone you can trust to carry out your wishes and that is willing to do it for you. Not always easy after 15 years away.

This isn't something I agree with unless there are particular circumstances. I don't understand why people who aren't affected by their choices should have any say in the matter. And the longer those people live somewhere else the less prerogative they should have.

I'm very pleased to see this come in. Just still spitting feathers that when I was living in the EU, so one of those most affected, I didn't get to vote on Brexit! I wish it had come in a few years back.

I pay taxes in the UK, so yes, I think I should have a say.

Me too. I think they are going about it wrong though. I would like overseas voters to have an overseas MP to represent their interests. As it stands, only people who were previously registered can have a vote. For me that's in a constituency where I haven't lived for 32 years!