Reviewed
18th May 2001
[I'am afraid that Hong Kong is no longer a 'British Dependent territory; as for the members of the Commonwealth, there is an official list on the Commonwealth's site - P.Y. Lambert]
WHO CAN VOTE?
All British, Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizens living in this country have the right to vote. European Union citizens may only vote at European Parliamentary Elections and Local Elections held here.
COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
| Antigua and Barbuda | Australia | The Bahamas |
| Bangladesh | Barbados | Belize |
| Botswana | Brunei | Cameroon |
| Canada | Cyprus (Republic) | Dominica |
| Fiji | The Gambia | Ghana |
| Grenada | Guyana | India |
| Jamaica | Kenya | Kiribati |
| Lesotho | Malawi | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Malta | Mauritius |
| Mozambique | Namibia | Nauru |
| New Zealand | Nigeria | Pakistan |
| Papua New Guinea | St Christopher and Nevis |
St Vincent and the Grenadines |
| St Lucia | Seychelles | Sierra Leone |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands | South Africa |
| Sri Lanka | Swaziland | Tanzania |
| Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago | Tuvalu |
| Uganda | Vanuatu | Western Samoa |
| Zambia | Zimbabwe |
BRITISH DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
| Anguilla | Antarctic Territory (British) | Bermuda |
| Cayman Islands | Falkland Islands and Dependencies |
Gibraltar |
| Hong Kong | India Ocean Territory (British) | Monserrat |
| Pitcairn | Henderson, Ducie and Oneo Islands |
St Helena and Dependencies |
| Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhakelia (Cyprus) |
Turks and Caicos Islands | Virgin Islands |
EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES
| Austria | Belgium | Denmark |
| Finland | France | Germany |
| Greece | Italy | Luxembourg |
| The Netherlands | Portugal | Spain |
| Sweden |
REGISTRATION AS A EUROPEAN UNION ELECTOR
All European Union Citizens can register to vote at Local Elections by completing the Electoral Registration form delivered to their property during the Autumn every year. Those who also wish to vote at European Parliamentary Elections must complete a UC1 form, which is available from Electoral Services.
It is important that everyone checks the Register to ensure that their name has been included in the Register. If it is found that a name has been omitted then a Voter Registration Form can be submitted to have the name added to the Register.
Once registered the elector is eligible to vote, but voting is not compulsory. When an election is called a polling card will be sent which tells the elector their electoral number, where the polling station is located, opening hours and how to vote. However the polling card is for information only - it does not need to be shown in order to vote. Likewise, no proof or identification is needed at the polling station.
Those who are not able to get to the polling station in person can apply for an Absent Vote. This means that they can either vote by post or choose someone who can vote on their behalf (a proxy).
The law governing European Parliamentary Elections changed in 1999 to a Proportional Representation based system. The system operated on a closed list system, whereby Political Parties put forward lists of candidates and electors were asked to vote for a party as opposed to individual candidates.
OVERSEAS ELECTORS
British citizens living abroad can register to vote at parliamentary and European Parliamentary elections for up to 15 years after they were last registered in the UK.
Registration is made by completing an "Overseas Electors Declaration" which is valid for a 12 month period. It can be submitted at any time during the year but must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer within 3 months of being signed and dated. Three months before the Declaration expires Electoral Services will write to the Declarant reminding him/her to reapply.
The Overseas Elector can apply for an Absent Vote to vote by post or appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf.
Highland Council - Electoral Registration - Date Last updated : 15/11/01
Commonwealth and Dependent Territories
Commonwealth – Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, the Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Christopher & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Dependent Territories – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antartic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies (South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands), Gibraltar, Montserrat, The Pitcairn Islands, St Helena and Dependencies (Ascension & Tristan da Cunha) and Turks & Caicos Islands.
