Fresh Calls To Remove Time Limit On Expat Voting

Conservative Peer Lord Lexden has come out in favour of abolishing the time limit on Expat voting

London, UK (Pryce Warner International) January 18th, 2012 – Describing the currant situation as “unjust” Lord Lexden stated that the 15 year limit on Expat voting is an issue that has remained unresolved for too long.

As has been noted by campaigners, Lexden pointed out that many other countries like the USA and France, offer citizens life-long voting rights regardless of where they choose to live.

Several of the 5.6m British Expats have previously attempted to raise campaigns to change this law but have never found much support in the House of Commons. Many are now hopeful that Lord Lexden’s calls will help to drive up momentum on this issue.

Another bone of contention for Lord Lexden was the fact that in the past the voting time limit has been shifted around seemingly at random. In 1985 it was 5 years, which was upped to 20 years in 1989 and then reduced to 15 years in 2002.

Viscount Astor also came out in support of changing the laws on Expat voting. He noted that British citizens who live abroad vote by post and often do not receive their ballot papers in time to vote. This means that despite their ability to vote, they votes are often not counted.

Both Viscount Astor and Lord Lexden reiterated the common complaint that just because British citizens live abroad does not mean that they sever all ties with their home country or lose interest in it. Many will have family, property or bank accounts in the UK, all of which mean they should have their say in elections.

Despite the fresh appeals to change the law Lord Lipsey, a Labour peer, stated recently that there was “no chance” of the limit being removed and that the poor timing of the campaign meant that proposals were almost certain to be unsuccessful.

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By Anthony Standring
Financial Contributor
Pryce Warner International Group
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