(edit title) Registering to vote in the UK Whilst in Sweden Options

[Snood]

I have only just found out that as a British citizen, I qualify to vote in the UK parliamentary and European elections. I have the form now and it seems like it's a pretty simple affair to get registered.

The problem I have though is that It seems like I need a witness declaration from another British citizen who is also living here... the problem is that I don't actually have any British friends here. Does anyone know what I can do in this situation?

[joe5451]

Aye, you have to find another British citizen who is not a relative. Plus when I did it for the last election (missed the deadline by 1 day) you were pretty much force into using a proxy vote (besides going over and voting in person) as the postal votes were not sent out far enough in advance to give you a chance to reply to it.

[Hisingen]

It is true that Brits can retain their voting rights in the UK, but only if you have not lived abroad longer than 15 years, or have been registered to vote withing the past fifteen years.

Here is one of the references I found:-
[url="http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx"]
There were other URL's relating to petitions and such, but clearly 15 years is the limit. After which you are out on your own, no vote even by proxy.

[Yorkshireman]

The problem I have though is that It seems like I need a witness declaration from another British citizen who is also living here... the problem is that I don't actually h ... (show full quote)

The problem I have though is that It seems like I need a witness declaration from another British citizen who is also living here... the problem is that I don't actually have any British friends here. Does anyone know what I can do in this situation? ... (hide full quote)

The rule for the British citizen that can witness the declaration is that they do not live in the UK, and doesn't even have to live in the same country as You!!!

Why not just pop to the British Consulate and get someone there to witness it, if I remember correctly there is one in Göteborg. Or an English Pub for that matter, bound to be some citizens, especially on a match day

[Zappa]

You are entitled to vote in UK elections. But only some. For example, you will not be entitled to vote in Scottish parliamentary elections or English mayoral elections. There are other exclusions.

The fifteen years and your out rule also applies. This whole thing has always slightly bothered me. I am expected to pay taxes (whichever country I reside in) but, at the same time, am denied full voting rights. What happened to "no taxation without representation"?

[SimonDMontfort]

Unless the Swedes have changed it, since several years ago, it was even more simple for my Swedish partner to register to vote in elections in her country (while she was living in the UK)

She completed a form, and then got any householder/neighbour to act as a witness: there was no requirement for her to find a Swedish passport holder.

Sweden is a pretty big place, and if you're the only UK citizen in some remote place, its an inconvenience to have to travel to an embassy at the other end of the country to fulfil the formalities

[William Sachsen-Coburg-Go...]

A few more years till I get my post 15 years voting ban. Then I'm suing the bastards for breaching my human rights (see ECHR, Protocol 1, Article 3).

[byke]

I love the part when you need to register for such things like passports etc from abroad in regards to English witnesses ... As you can't just wonder down the pub, as the forms also require the British witness to also include their passport information etc.

Most Brits I know, don't go down the pub carrying a passport.
Let alone would be comfortable with testifying they know such person and willing to risk legal problems by including information such as passport numbers.

[SimonDMontfort]

...most 'Brits' I've seen in pubs ALWAYS have their pint in one hand and their passport in the other

Maybe you just don't go to the right pubs...?

[sometimesinsweden]

Amazed you can be bothered to vote in UK elections - I havent bothered for years.

Equivalent of covering a shit with another shit to pretend it isnt shit.

[William Sachsen-Coburg-Go...]

The British Government hate the fact that expats get to vote. They've been trying to do away with it for years because we're seen as a political wildcard. The spindoctoring and propaganda doesn't work because we're not saturated enough. They really do hate us. That's reason enough for me to register.

[Yorkshireman]

According to the frequently asked questions about my vote:

Why can i not vote if I have been away for more than 15 years?
The length of time that a UK citizen can vote once they have moved abroad is limited by law to 15 years. Until 1985 no UK citizen living overseas could vote (other than Members of the Armed Forces or Crown Servants). Since then the limit has been 5 years, 20 years and now it is 15 years. The franchise is a matter for Government and Parliament and therefore any comments should be directed to the Ministry of Justice.

Franchise? Wonder if that means one can buy votes?

[Rizwan Hameed]

what an excellent post. i am so impressed .
Really a good article here.
http://www.bimago.se/

Thanks

[james5]

you can find the British who lived in UK.

[Snood]

I just remembered, there's a British guy working in my company at our head office which I visit from time to time. I just asked him and he's happy to witness for me.

Thanks for all the advice though