Written question asked by Viscount Waverley (Crossbench) on Thursday, 14 April 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 28 April 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 April 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why UK citizens who have been resident in other EU member states for more than 15 years who pay taxes and social security in the UK and are treated as domiciled in the UK have been excluded from voting in the referendum on 23 June.

Answer: The franchise for the EU referendum is based on the current UK Parliamentary franchise and includes British citizens who have lived overseas for fewer than 15 years and were registered to vote before they left the UK. This means that many overseas voters will be able to participate in the referendum and we are supporting the Electoral Commission in their efforts to encourage as many as possible to register to vote. The Government intends to introduce legislation to scrap the 15 year rule as a permanent change to the Parliamentary franchise in due course.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL7681
Session: 2015-16
Subjects: British nationals abroad EU countries Referendums Voting rights UK membership of EU
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk