How to vote in the UK general election as an expat

For the first time, citizens who have lived outside Britain for more than 15 years are eligible to vote

Party leaders in the UK general election campaign. Top, left to right: the Liberal Democrats' Ed Davey, the Conservatives' Rishi Sunak, Labour's Keir Starmer, Richard Tice of Reform UK. Bottom row, left to right: Stephen Flynn, the Scottish Nationalist Party's Westminster leader, the Democratic Unionist Party's Gavin Robinson, Green Party co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay. PAShow less

Meet the new class of voter expected to turn out in the UK’s general election, which was announced on Wednesday and will wrap up in early July. It turns out many will be much like the old voter.

The ruling Conservative Party face the realistic prospect of opposition for the first time in more than a decade, with polls showing it at an average of 21 percentage points behind Labour.

However, this summer’s election will be significant for another reason.

For the first time, expats who have lived abroad for more than 15 years will be eligible to vote in a nationwide poll.

Part of the UK government's Election Act, passed in 2022, the move affects up to three million citizens living abroad who have either previously lived in or been registered to vote in Britain.

The change in law came after a challenge raised by the late Harry Shindler, a Briton who fought a 20-year campaign to end the 15-year limit on voting rights, eventually bringing the case to the European Court of Justice.

Mr Shindler, who died in February aged 101, said the UK was "not a complete democracy” until all British people were given the right to vote.

Long-term British expats living in the UAE welcomed the move to extend voting rights when the rule came into force in January.

And many say they are now eager to cast their ballots in July.

For Jennifer Brown, a Scot living in Abu Dhabi, it will be the first time she has been eligible to vote in years, having moved abroad in 2005.

She found online registration straightforward, signing up months ago with her passport and National Insurance numbers after the change was announced. She has opted for a postal vote.

Conservative leader Rishi Sunak speaks at party campaign event at the National Army Museum in London on Wednesday, July 3. AP Photo

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer addresses supporters during a visit to the West Regwm Farm events venue in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, Wales, on the final day of election campaigning. PA

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey drives a tractor during a visit to Owl Lodge in Lacock, Wiltshire. PA

Satirical political character Count Binface in London before challenging Conservative leader RishiSunak for the parliamentary seat of Richmond and Northallerton. Reuters

Boris Johnson, former UK prime minister, campaigns for the Conservatives in London. Bloomberg

Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right Reform UK Party, with heavyweight boxer Derek Chisora during a campaign visit to Clacton-on-Sea in eastern England. Reuters

Mr Sunak holds a speech during his visit to Well Healthcare Supplies as he campaigns in Stoke. Getty Images

Mr Starmer laughs as he speaks to supporters near Milton Keynes. AP

Mr Davey bungee jumps during a visit to Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex. AP

Mr Sunak bowls during his visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club. AFP

Mr Starmer addresses an audience of Labour Party members and supporters during a rally at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London. AP

Mr Davey rides a towable inflatable during a visit to Lakeside Ski & Wake, in the Cotswolds. Reuters

Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. AFP

Mr Starmer during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingsbury, London. PA

Mr Davey participates in a Zumba class with supporters in Wokingham. Reuters

Mr Starmer speaking during a visit to Northampton Town Football Club at Sixfields Stadium. PA

Mr Sunak delivers a speech in central London. AFP

Mr Davey jet-washes an ambulance in London. Getty Images

Mr Starmer rests his hand on the shoulder of Idris Elba as they meet families of knife crime victims, in west London. PA

Mr Sunak turns on the power in the training centre control room during a tour of the Sizewell B nuclear power plant. AFP

Mr Davey plays a game of Frisbee on a visit to a farm in Hampshire. AP

Mr Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visit a supermarket in Swindon. PA

Mr Sunak speaks to journalists on the campaign bus following the launch of the Welsh Conservatives General Election manifesto near Rhyl. Reuters

Mr Davey taking part in wheelbarrow racing at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town football club in Somerset. PA

Mr Farage speaks to the press in Clacton-on-Sea. Bloomberg

Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour party's 2024 general election manifesto in Manchester. AP

Mr Sunak answers questions from the audience in Grimsby. Getty Images

Mr Davey toasts a marshmallow as he visits Willow Forest School in Surrey. EPA

Mr Farage attends the launch of the Reform UK manifesto in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Reuters

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launches Scottish Labour’s battle bus campaign on June 17 in South Queensferry, Scotland. Getty Images

Britain's Labour Party politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting speaks to a television crew outside the BBC in London. AFP

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, Sunday, with Laura Kuenssberg. BBC

Mr Sunak meets pupils in a maths class during a visit to the John Whitgift Academy, in Grimsby. AP

Mr Starmer during a visit to Grimsby Institute, a technical training college in Grimsby. PA

Mr Davey during a general election campaign visit to the Aqua Jungle Spot in Stratford-upon-Avon. Bloomberg

Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty take centre stage at the Conservative Party's general election manifesto launch in Towcester. Getty Images

Mr Starmer passes a toothbrush to a child during his visits to the Whale Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough. AP

Mr Davey meets Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat candidate for Torbay and his guide dog Jennie at Torquay Harbour. Getty Images

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts after something is thrown towards him on the campaign bus in Cawthorne, Barnsley. AP

Mr Sunak attends a neighbourhood watch meeting in Horsham, West Sussex. PA

Mr Starmer helps volunteers pot plants during a visit to Harlesden Town Garden in north-west London. PA

Mr Davey on the 'Rush' ride during a Liberal Democrats general election campaign event at Thorpe Park. Reuters

Mr Sunak, during a visit to Imagination Childcare, in Swindon, Wiltshire, while on the election campaign trail. PA

Mr Starmer visits Brent Cross town's visitor pavilion for a housing launch in London. Getty Images

Mr Davey grills burgers in a garden, during campaigning in Wiltshire. PA

Mr Sunak during a visit to Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames, as a boat carrying Liberal Democrat supporters passes behind him. Reuters

Mr Starmer meets pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and the cost of living, in a cafe in Bolton. PA

Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer lock horns the first televised general election debate of the campaign, at MediaCity in Salford. PA

Mr Davey plays Jenga using symbolic 'blue wall' blocks in Stockport. EPA

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn poses outside Islington Town Hall, north London, after handing in his nomination papers for the general election, taking place on July 4. PA

Mr Farage has a milkshake hurled at him during a campaign event in Clacton-on-Sea. EPA

Mr Sunak launches the Conservative Party's campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse in north-east England. PA

Labour launch their election campaign bus, with Mr Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, in Uxbridge. Getty Images

Mr Davey holds a balloon with a figure that represents the amount of votes the Liberal Democrat party lost by in Wimbledon. PA

Mr Sunak feeds lambs as he visits Rowlinson's Farm during a Conservative general election campaign event in Gawsworth. Reuters

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Starmer, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband and local candidate Martin McCluskey in Greenock. PA

Mr Sunak holds a question and answer session during a visit to Niftylift in Milton Keynes. EPA

Mr Starmer serves ice cream to day trippers on Barry seafront in South Wales. PA

Mr Davey takes part in a baking lesson with pupils from High Beeches Primary School during a half-term holiday camp in Hertfordshire. PA

Mr Sunak speaks with a cafe worker as he picks up breakfast for the media at a cafe in Cornwall. PA

Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of Labour's six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny. PA

Mr Davey and Anna Sabine, parliamentary candidate for Frome and East Somerset, ride the Ultimate Slip 'n' Slide at Eastcote Farm in Beckington. Bloomberg

Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney speaks during a visit to The Dower House Cafe in Edinburgh. AP

Rishi Sunak examines Jackal armoured vehicles during his visit to defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Exeter. PA

Keir Starmer with a baby at Worcester City Football Club. PA

Ed Davey rides a bike during a visit to Knighton, Wales. PA

Nigel Farage at the cliffs in Dover after speaking at a Reform UK event. Getty Images

Akshata Murty, wife of Mr Sunak, meets with residents during a visit to a Royal British Legion care home in Ripon. Getty Images

Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during a visit to Rolls Royce’s educational training complex in Derby. PA

Ed Davey falls into the water while paddle boarding on Lake Windermere. PA

Rishi Sunak campaigning in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. EPA

Mr Starmer addresses party members and media in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex. Getty Images

Mr Davey launches his party's general election campaign battle bus in Cambridge. PA

Mr Sunak on the ball during a visit to Chesham United Football Club. PA

Mr Starmer speaks to party supporters after making his first keynote speech of the campaign in Lancing. PA

Mr Davey join supporters for a dog walk near Winchester. PA

Mr Sunak visits a maritime technology centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as he campaigns for the general election on July 4. Reuters

Mr Starmer and his Scottish counterpart, Anas Sarwar, greet supporters at the launch of the Scottish Labour general election campaign at Caledonia House in Glasgow. Getty Images

Mr Davey, right, eats ice cream with his party's local candidate, Josh Babarinde, on the promenade in Eastbourne. PA

Mr Sunak arrives at Inverness Airport, in Scotland, on the general election campaign trail. PA

Mr Starmer during a visit to Gillingham Football Club in Kent. PA

Mr Sunak speaks with members of staff at the Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg in north-east Scotland. AFP

Mr Davey during a visit to the town centre in Cheltenham. PA

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, attends an election campaign launch in London. AP

Mr Sunak holds a Q&A with staff of a West Transport distribution centre in Ilkeston in the East Midlands. AP

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and Mr Starmer arrive at Gillingham FC. Getty Images

Mr Sunak takes questions from workers at West Transport. Getty Images

Mr Starmer holds a piece of campaign branding at Gillingham. PA

Mr Sunak poses for a selfie in Ilkeston. AFP

She told The National: “This is the first time I could vote in a long time so I registered to vote as soon as they opened it.

“I’m traditionally Conservative but the party are in a mess and they can’t seem to find a strong leader. The last few years have been chaotic and disappointing. For now I’m undecided, but I will come to a decision because I won’t be wasting my right to vote.”

Keren Bobker, administrator of the British Expats Dubai and UAE Facebook page, and a columnist for The National, is in the same position, having moved abroad in 2006.

She re-registered to vote a couple of months ago and said the ability to cast her ballot from abroad was important to her. She is happy with the idea of a Labour government, which she said appears to be a “foregone conclusion”.

Postal votes are counted at the Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, in Crediton, Devon, for the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in June. PA

“Even after being out of the UK since 2006, with no current plans to live there again, I have UK assets, property and family there and UK legislation affects UK citizens no matter where they live,” she said.

Ms Bobker said registration took “minutes” via the UK Gov website with her passport and National Insurance numbers and she received an email to confirm a day or two later.

However, she opted for a proxy vote since she had faced issues in the past obtaining postal votes, she said, “not least as my local council are very unhelpful – so I have registered for a proxy vote and my father will register my vote”.

Ms Bobker said she had not seen any official awareness campaigns to promote voting among expats, but she is using her Facebook group to reach people who are eligible.

Members of the group said they had also signed up in a discussion about the topic, with one writing: "Just set up my proxy vote."

Who can vote

You must be either a British citizen, or an eligible Irish citizen registering to vote in Northern Ireland.

Registration

The first step is registration.

In Northern Ireland you must register via a paper form but it can be done online for the rest of the UK.

You will need to provide details such as your passport number, plus the address and time you were last registered or resident in the UK.

Local authorities, which are responsible for the electoral roll in their area, must be able to verify your identity and past connection to the area.

You can find contact details for the relevant local council by entering the postcode of the last place you lived in the UK, using the commission's postcode tool.

How to vote – proxy or post

After registration, voters can choose whether to vote by proxy or post.

The government recommends anyone who lives abroad to apply to vote by proxy if the election or referendum is less than two weeks away. This means you will ask someone who is already a registered voter to vote on your behalf. They must be eligible to vote in the election and bring their ID.