UK Expats: How To Keep Your Vote

expat network

UK Expats: How To Keep Your Vote

Ten Things You Need To Know About Registering As An Overseas Voter

1. British nationals who have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years can register as an overseas elector, to be able to vote in UK Parliamentary General Elections, UK-wide referendums, and European Parliamentary elections.

2. At the 2015 General Election there were almost 106,000 overseas electors on the register, three times the number that were on the register ahead of the last general election and the highest number of overseas voters registered ever.

3. Overseas Voter Registration Day is on Thursday 4 February 2016 – take five minutes to visit the online registration site and let others know too.

4. It’s important that people know that if you’re not registered you can’t vote in the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union when it takes place. With the date of the referendum as yet unknown, it’s best to register sooner rather than later so you can be sure you’re registered in time.

5.You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. This means that it is easier than before to register from wherever you are.

6. You will need to know your National Insurance number and date of birth, and have your passport to hand if you have one. If you don’t have a National Insurance number you can still register, but you may have to supply more information to show who you are.

7. If you don’t want to register online, you can still download paper forms. But remember to return your completed form as far in advance of the deadline as possible.

8. Remember that you have to sign an annual declaration once you are registered to renew your registration every year.

9. You can choose how you wish to vote. You can vote by post, by proxy (voting by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf) or even in person at your polling station.

10. Lots of people who live overseas might not even know that they may be able to take part. Pass the message on that your vote matters! #passthemessageon #expat #yourvotematters

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.