In January 2024 new laws came into force meaning all British citizens living abroad are eligible to vote in UK parliamentary elections, and also have the right to engage with and seek support from the MP of their last permanent UK address. However only 191,338 of an estimated 3.2 million people registered to vote at the last election.
I recently met with representatives of the British Overseas Voters Forum to discuss the challenges in identifying and engaging with British voters abroad. The reality is there is no way for any MP to know how many British citizens living overseas may classify as overseas constituents, and no current way to identify or engage with them.
I have raised this with Foreign Office Ministers, asking what support our embassies can provide, and will continue to press for changes to improve registration and engagement. But until the process is improved, I am asking for your help. If you have friends or family who are UK citizens from the local area, currently living abroad, please let them know their rights and how to get involved.
Details of how to register as an overseas voter are available here: www.gov.uk/voting-when-living-abroad, and if they formerly lived in the constituency they can contact me as their MP at [email protected]