Tag: EU

Izzy has written to the Elections Office in Birmingham to query a letter that has been sent to EU citizens across Birmingham who registered to vote after 31st December 2020. The letter is requesting the recipient to fill in a form online or to contact the Electoral Office to answer unspecified questions.

Izzy has two big concerns about the wording of the letter and it’s implications on EU citizens right to vote being wrongly removed. Firstly it mentions arrivals as a family member, which is not specified on the government website and secondly it does not notify the recipient if they fail to respond they may lose their right to vote, or that they have a right to appeal if they are determined not eligible to vote.

The letter is in response to the Elections Act which made changes to EU citizens rights to vote or stand in local elections after Brexit and came into force on 7th May 2024.

EU citizens are now only be able to register, vote or stand as a candidate in local elections in England if:

• they are a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain who is resident in the UK, has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission
• they are a citizen of any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 was legally resident in the UK, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who did not need permission, and this has continued without a break

EU citizens cannot vote or stand as a candidate in UK Parliament elections .

The changes do not apply to:

• Scottish Parliament and council elections in Scotland
• Senedd and local council elections in Wales

EU citizens who registered to vote before 31st December 2020 and have full or pre – settled status are being informed their right to vote in local elections is secure.

Cover photo: Izzy Knowles with credit to DOROD who organised an EU Flag relay across the UK in 2019 to raise awareness and belonging to the EU.