Over the last few years we have reported on the lifetime vote for those who have lived outside of the UK for more than 15 years. Those UK residents who lost that right to vote because of this rule will now be able to re-register from January 2024 (subject to Government completion of secondary legislation) and should therefore be eligible to vote in the next general election.
Although the change ending the 15-year rule was passed in the Elections Act in April 2022, secondary legislation is needed for the practical processes to allow people to re-register. The secondary legislation is still being finalised. The Electoral Commission, which will help organise the re-registration process, refers to January 2024 as the date when this change should come into force.
Other changes include:
- Once registered, Britons abroad will remain so for three years instead of being required to re-confirm annually.
- Britons abroad will also be able to vote if they can prove they lived in a UK constituency at some point (or if a minor when leaving the UK, their parents were).