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Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the UK residency requirements are to vote in local elections; and if he will make a statement on the eligibility of (a) citizens from the European Union, who are not UK or Irish citizens and (b) non-EU migrants with a right to remain, to vote in local elections in the UK. [210347] Mr. Raynsford: Under Section 4(3) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (the 1983 Act) a person is entitled to be registered in the register of local government electors for any electoral area if on the relevant date he is resident in the area and satisfies other criteria on legal capacity, age and citizenship. Registration, along with the satisfaction of other criteria, brings with it the right to vote in local elections in that area. (a) Such citizens of the European Union member states resident in the UK have been eligible to register and to vote in local government elections in the UK since 1996. This is as a result of the UK Government applying the European Council Directive 94/80/EC which allows EU nationals to vote and stand in local government elections of the member states they are resident in. (b) Non-EU migrants who have a right to remain on the UK are not eligible to register and vote in UK local government elections, unless they are also qualifying Commonwealth citizens.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

210347; 430 c206W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

EU countries Elections Eligibility Foreign nationals EU nationals Local government Voting rights Residency requirements

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk