In one of the most significant boosts in the country’s electoral franchise in a century, an estimated
3.5 million Britons living abroad will be eligible to vote in UK general elections.
The increase in the electorate on Tuesday is the result of a change in the law adopted by parliament in 2022, which removed a prior restriction on UK nationals voting if they had resided abroad for more than 15 years.
It is the most substantial modification to the voter records since a 1928 law provided women equal
voting rights and a 1969 move to lower the voting age to 18 from 21. It is implemented ahead of an
election later this year.
Britons living abroad will be able to register to vote online, regardless of how long they have been
away. Once registered, they will be able to donate to political parties and campaigners under UK
election law.
Around 233,000 international voters registered for the most recent election in
December 2019, a considerable increase from prior campaigns due to Brexit.
The administration predicts that Tuesday’s move will enfranchise around 3.5 million people, roughly
trebling the 1.3 million vote margin in the 2016 referendum on European Union membership.
It is also larger than the disparity in vote totals between Britain’s two major parties, the Conservatives and Labour, in five of the last six general elections.
It is uncertain how many of the newly eligible 3.5 million UK nationals living abroad will register to
vote.
They will have to provide information such as their current address and the date and time they
were last registered to vote or live in the United Kingdom.
According to the Electoral Commission, local administrations in charge of the electoral roll in their
areas must be able to verify an applicant’s identification and previous connection to the area.
Also Read: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak fires Home Secretary Suella Braverman, Appoints Cameron
