Can Expats Vote In UK Elections? All You Need To Know part 2 – Part one is here.

Overview of what living in the U.K Entails

Living in the U.K as an expat is great! There are so many positive things about being an expat, including fantastic work opportunities, various free activities to do, and there are always events happening. Getting your residency card is not too difficult either.

However, it’s best to arrange everything before you leave your home country, so you are ready to move on arrival. Moreover, there are some negative things about being an expat in the U.K, though. For example, it is very cold, and it rains a lot! Below are a few pros and cons of living in the U.K as an expat.

Pros

Great Public Transport System

People who live in the U.K can commute in comfort and style, using the underground or train systems to get around their city. The underground/train system in the big cities is efficient, clean, and comfortable. And with a range of easy-to-use apps available for iPhone or android, traveling around the city is simpler than ever.

Quality Education Can Be Found Across the Country

There are many top universities in the U.K that offer world-class educations to students from all over the globe. Whether you’re a student looking for a bachelor’s degree or a post-graduate program, the U.K has a university that meets your needs. Also, as an expat, if you have a child trying to find the right school to attend, many options are available.

There’s Always Something for Everyone

Whichever city you choose to live in as an expat, it won’t be hard to find things to do outside your home and work life. Whether it’s watching football at the pub with friends, drinking wine in a local bar, or taking day trips to see castles, there are many activities that you can partake in.

The abundance of Culture and History to Learn About

The U.K has played a major role in world affairs for centuries, so there are endless amounts of history to learn about. Not only that but there are endless opportunities for people who would like to see the culture and history in person. There are many museums and historical sites around the country that can be visited to expand your knowledge of the past.

Food Is Tasty and Affordable

There’s a reason why gastronomes come from worldwide to sample the unique foods available in the U.K. Whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal at a fine dining restaurant or something quick and cheap at a street food vendor, there’s an option for everyone.

The Climate Is Mild All Year Round

The climate varies depending on the part of the country that you’re in, but it can be said that the weather is mild enough to avoid seasonal extremes. This makes it possible to enjoy the outdoors during all four seasons without being too hot or cold.

Work-Life Balance Is Important For Most People

The work culture in the U.K involves a good deal of respect for employees to spend time with their families and focus on their personal lives. It’s not uncommon for people to take a few days off work to travel or relax without worrying about it negatively impacting their career.

Cons

Weather

The last two summers in the UK were both quite bad and wet. While England may have been better historically, it still gets cold, but not as cold as Siberia or other countries at similar latitudes. So if you are from somewhere hotter, this may seem like a big change.

Expensive Housing/Renting

In cities like London and Manchester, renting can be very expensive, especially renting by the week. However, other cities like Birmingham and Liverpool are much cheaper to live in. This can make it expensive to move around if you are not local.

Longer Commutes

If you live outside of London, expect your commute to be longer than before (and more expensive). Public transport is good, but services may not run as frequently as you are used to. Be prepared for a longer commute when you move to England from outside of London.

Food

In the U.K, food is more expensive and not as good as in some European countries or even in the USA (although this depends on where you go). If you have a family, be prepared for a bit of a shock when comparing food prices to what you paid before.

Driving On the Left Side of the Road

This may seem quite obvious, but it can be very dangerous if you are not used to this (although many people do it without noticing). It might also waste your time trying to get somewhere and keep forgetting which side of the road you are supposed to be on.

Frequently Asked Questions about Living in the U.K

What are the average prices of cars?

The average car in the United Kingdom costs around £9,000 – £10,000 to buy new, and a second-hand car will cost around £5,000. In fact, the price of a car in the UK is generally more than in most other countries, largely because of higher taxes.

Can expat live conveniently in the U.K?

Yes. The UK is highly developed with well-developed transport, telecommunications, and other infrastructure networks. Many expats choose to live in London, which has an international airport and excellent access to waterway channels along the River Thames.

How cold does it get in the U.K?

In general, this varies depending on where you are in the UK. However, temperatures can fall below zero degrees Celsius (32 Fahrenheit) in some places during the winter months. This is because the cold, damp air from the North Sea meets colder air coming down from Scandinavia and Russia.

How many people in the U.K speak English?

Around 98% of the UK population speaks English. The other major languages spoken in the United Kingdom are Welsh, Polish and Punjabi. More so, English is also one of the official languages in the Republic of Ireland, although only around 1.5 million people speak it.

Conclusion

The voting age in the UK is 18, as mentioned earlier. However, if you are registered to vote, and you leave the country for more than 15 years, then you may lose your right to vote. This law has been controversial, with many people claiming that it should be overturned. Nonetheless, refer to this platform for more information.

Can Expats Vote In UK Elections? All You Need To Know part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.

Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here. 

The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.

Introduction

Among the many rights of British citizens, which can be found in the Magna Carta, is the right to participate in elections. The requirements for voting are not listed there but were set out by an act passed more than 100 years later, still within the living memory of most of us.

Citizens of Commonwealth countries who are residents in the UK can vote. However, there is one exception, citizens of Ireland (Republic of) are not allowed to vote unless they have been residents for at least six months.

British citizens living abroad may register as an overseas elector if they were registered to vote in the UK within the previous fifteen years and intend to return to the UK within six months of registration. And they will only be allowed to cast their vote in one constituency.

To register as an overseas elector, expats need to complete a form sent by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for that area to the address currently on record with them. However, if they have lived abroad for more than fifteen years, the ERO will have no record of their address.

In this case, expats will need to re-register as voters in the constituency where they are currently domiciled. Now, the question remains; can expats vote in the UK election? Well, that’s why we’ve compiled this article. Today, we will walk you through everything you need to know about expat voting. Let’s get it started!

Everything You Need To Know About the UK Election

The UK general election is a major event in the political calendar. The general election elects members of parliament (MP) to each represent a different area in the UK by making their own policies and serving under Prime Minister. Election in the UK is quite different from what you’ll expect in other countries.

Nominating Candidates

The UK is split into 650 constituencies, each represented by an MP. In order for a person to become an MP, they must get themselves on the ballot for their constituency and be selected in a public election. This is known as ‘nomination.’ The way the public votes in the nomination select who becomes an MP is completely different from general elections.

In a nomination, an MP’s name, party, and policies are chosen by the public as candidates stand for election as independents with no party affiliation. Once nominations close, whoever has been selected will appear on the ballot on Election Day. This means there is a total of 650 MPs representing their constituency on one day.

Election Day

On a designated day, the 650 candidates selected by their constituency will stand for election. On this date, every resident of the UK who is eligible to vote – which means you must be 18 or over and a British citizen – can vote for whomever they want to represent them in parliament. This is important; you cannot choose who represents your constituency; the public is in charge. You can vote for whomever you like; they don’t have to be a party member, but they do need to represent what you believe in. If one candidate wins more than half the votes, they win their seat and become an MP – if not, you go back to the nominations stage.

Swinging Seats

There are certain places in the UK where elections are won and lost. These are called swinging seats because they swing between parties every election. The most famous of these is Hampstead & Kilburn – a constituency in London that has changed hands four times since its creation in 2010. During the general election, the party with the most seats will form a government.

The first past the post system used in UK elections means that it is unlikely for two parties to have an equal number of votes, so one party generally ends up with one more than another. The party with the most seats will be given the monarch’s task (Queen/King).

The Prime Minister

Once the party leader with most seats, they will choose a team of people to represent them in parliament. This is known as their ‘cabinet.’ In order for a person to be given a role in the cabinet, they must have been elected by being an MP. The leader of the party becomes Prime Minister, and their cabinet helps them to make policy and govern the country.

UK Election – What Happens Next?

Most seats will form a government, and their leader becomes prime minister. They then pick a cabinet of people who will help them run the UK. Moreover, the opposition leader becomes the leader of their party and chooses a team to represent them.

Can Expats Vote In The UK Election?

British citizens who have lived in the UK within the last 15 years can vote in general elections. You must register to vote, which you can do here. On the other hand, expats who have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years will not be able to vote.

Requirements for Expats to Vote in the U.K. Election

Expatriate citizens are not allowed to vote unless they have lived in the UK within the last 15 years. This is because they will most likely have moved abroad for work or education reasons rather than any nefarious activities.

Expats who live outside the UK can register to vote online, but only if they have been on a UK electoral roll at any point in the last 15 years. Without further ado, below are the 7 requirements expats need to have before voting in the United Kingdom.

• The first requirement for expats to vote in the U.K. election is to be on the electoral roll on or before 15 years of leaving the country, as published on 1 December following their departure from Britain.
• Expats who leave Britain must not have been living outside of the United Kingdom for more than a total of five years.
• Only expats who were previously British citizens, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland can register to vote in the U.K.
• Provided that they are included on an electoral roll published by 1 December every year after they depart from Britain.
• Expats must also be British citizens, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.
• It is also vital for expats to have been on an electoral take part in any election held between their departure from Britain and 1 December following that time.
• Expatriates must have been living in the UK within 15 years prior

How Does Voting Work In The UK?

The voting process is completely different from what you might be used to in your home country, but it’s very simple. Once you register to vote (which you can do here), every constituency will hold their election on one day; this is called ‘Election Day.

The day itself is chosen by parliament and usually takes place within 2-4 weeks of Election Day. Nominations close a week before an election, and the party with the most seats will form a government. In order to vote, you must be registered, which involves sending some identification information to your local authority.

You don’t need to take any ID with you when you vote – just bring yourself along! Remember to bring your National Insurance Number (NINO) and polling card with you, if you’ve got them. This is important; if you don’t bring these items, the staff in the voting station won’t be able to find your information in their system and therefore can’t let you vote.

You will be given two ballot papers when you arrive; one for your constituency MP and one for elected members in the local area. You only get to vote once for your constituency MP, but you can put as many crosses next to the names of people you want to represent you on the other paper (local elections).

If nobody wins more than half the votes in the general election, another election will be held within 3 months. This would mean that one party could win more than half the votes again and put them back in charge.

7 Things to Know About U.K Voting System

The United Kingdom uses a single-member district plurality voting system in elections, also known as ‘first past the post.’ In this system, voters vote for one candidate from multiple choices, and the person who gets the most votes wins.

This voting method often leads to a two-party system, as the leading parties usually win with a large majority. The United Kingdom general elections occur after a fixed term of five years and elect representatives from 650 districts to form their local governments.

The Voting Age in the U.K Is 18

Those 16 or 17 can vote if they will be 18 by Election Day. This means; that people who are 16 at the time of elections can vote in the coming U.K general elections if they are 18 before May 2024.

The Voting Process Is Simple and Straightforward

The U. Kingdom has a simple, understandable voting system in which you cast a ballot for a single candidate from a list of multiple choices. Once done, your vote is either counted or thrown away depending on whether your candidate gets more votes than anyone else.

The majority of Votes Is All That Counts, Even If It’s 100% Minus 1

For example, in a district with 5 seats (candidates A to E), voters choose four different parties. Candidate F wins with 100% of the vote, beating candidate B by one vote. For simplicity’s sake, let us assume only one person voted.

If that were the case, candidate A gets zero votes, B gets one vote, C gets two votes, D gets three votes, and E gets four votes. Candidate F would be deemed to have received 100% of all possible votes cast in this example.

There Is No Such Thing as a Wasted Vote

Since every vote cast toward a winning candidate is counted, there is no such thing as a wasted vote. Even if your candidate loses, your vote still contributes to the pool of votes tallied up at the end of Election Day. This means you have nothing to lose by voting for the party or person you really want to win since it’s impossible for your vote not to count.

A Party Winning an Election Will Rarely Win 50% of the Popular Vote

When there are more than two parties, it is very difficult for anyone to secure more than 50% of the total vote. This means that coalitions are common in many countries with a plurality voting system instead of a majority voting system.

Politics Tend To Focus On the Major Parties

In a first past the post system, voters tend to vote for a party other than the one they would prefer to win. This is because voting for a minority party has a low chance of success, so people choose one of the major parties or a centrist party. This leads to the election of two main parties who are seen as being “acceptable” by more people than their opponents.

The Voting System Doesn’t Account For All Equally

The United Kingdom uses a single-member district plurality voting system which means it gives extra weight to votes cast in certain places, called districts. This means it might not be possible to vote for a party other than the one you would prefer and still see that party win the elections.