Â鶹ӳ»­

British citizens who move abroad currently lose their voting rights after 15 years. Controversially, this prevented many from voting in the EU Referendum which would have a major impact on their lives. A number of dedicated campaigners have been lobbying for many years to have the time restriction removed, and the government is now supporting a Private Member’s Bill to meet these demands and grant ‘Votes for Life’. But the bill is politically controversial and has many opponents. 

The Salon bought together expertise from Â鶹ӳ»­ European Institute, with Dr. Sue Collard talking about her research on voting among non-residents, with participants from a Berlin based advocacy group, the Electoral Reform Society and an expert on election administration. The evening saw a discussion of the principles of voting rights for non-residents in general as well as covering the complex issue of the changing nature of UK law on franchise arrangements in elections and referendums.