Policy Background Overseas Electors
The Government’s 2019 manifesto included a commitment to "make it easier for British expats to vote in Parliamentary elections, and get rid of the arbitrary 15-year limit on their voting rights."
	The overseas franchise was created by the Representation of the People Act 1985 (‘RPA 1985’), which first enabled British citizens resident abroad to vote in UK elections. It set a limit of 5 years from the date of last being registered or (in limited circumstances) resident in the UK. This limit was extended in 1989 to 20 years, and then reduced in 2002 to the current limit of 15 years.
	Under the present system, British citizens (including British citizens who were born in Northern Ireland and identify as Irish) who have moved abroad and wish to vote in UK Parliamentary elections can apply to register as an overseas elector in the UK constituency in which they were last registered before leaving the UK, provided they were registered within 15 years of making that application. Also eligible are those who were too young to register to vote when they left the UK, if their parent or guardian was on the electoral register at the place where they were resident in the UK, subject to a 15 year limit, from when the person left the UK.
	This Act will remove the 15 year limit on expatriates' right to vote in UK Parliamentary elections and enfranchise all British citizens overseas who were previously registered or resident in the UK.
	As under the current system, overseas applicants will be required to prove their identity and have their connection to the relevant previous UK address verified before they can be added to the electoral register. Applicants will be entitled to register in respect of the last UK address at which they were registered, or, if they were never registered, the last UK address at which they were resident.
	The Act will also extend the registration period for overseas electors from one year to up to three years. Electors will be able to reapply or refresh their absent vote arrangements at the same time as renewing their registration.