Voting from abroad is broken. Help us secure your rights.
A new law currently before Parliament fails millions of British citizens living overseas by ignoring critical flaws in the system.
We are campaigning for a fair solution, and we need your help.
The problem
Of overseas postal ballots arrived in time to be counted in the 2024 General Election. The postal voting system is archaic and unfit for purpose.
Despite promising to "modernise" elections, the Government's new Bill ignores the recommendation to implement a reliable voting system for overseas citizens.
Excluded
From automatic registration using government and local council data, leaving British citizens abroad with the burden of manual declarations.
Denied
Dedicated representation through overseas constituencies, like in France, Italy and many other countries.
Improvements such as downloading and printing ballot papers to bypass outgoing postal delays, halving the transit time.
Establish secure polling stations at British Embassies and Consulates to ensure safe and timely ballot return.
Create dedicated MPs to represent the specific needs and interests of the British diaspora.
Don't let your voice be silenced. Write to your MP today and demand they support amendments to help British citizens abroad. Tell them:
1. You are a constituent living overseas, and include your last address in the UK.
2. The current postal voting system disenfranchises you (share your own experience of late or missing ballots if you have one).
3. You urge them to support amendment NC19 to the Representation of the People Bill to conduct a feasibility study on improving voting from abroad, including Embassy voting, downloadable ballot papers.
4. Point out that the review by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee after the last General Election recommended such a study.
Together, we can ensure we are no longer treated as an afterthought.
Sample letter - please take inspiration from it rather than make a direct copy and do add your own personal story if you have one
Dear [Insert your MP's name],
I am writing to ask you to add your name to NC19 amendment to the Representation of the People Bill in order to support overseas voters. This amendment would compel the government to conduct a review on the feasibility of proposals to improve overseas voting arrangements.
[ Insert your own personal story about why this issue is important to you. Have you tried to vote from abroad and had problems? Do you have relatives outside the UK that have? ]
This amendment has already received cross party support from Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Greens and Independent MPs at committee and report stage, and I would be grateful if as my MP, you could add your name as well.
Currently, ballots can arrive too late for overseas citizens to be able to vote, and proxies can be problematic to arrange if you no longer have contacts where you previously resided. Other countries have methods in place to avoid these problems, for example in France, voting is allowed at the Embassy or in the Netherlands constituents can print their own ballot.
After the 2024 Election, a powerful Commons Committee (Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee) recommended the government conduct a review to consider using embassies as polling stations, digital transmission and printing of ballot papers, voting by phone, e-voting, better proxy arrangements and comprehensive information for overseas voters. However, the government has so far refused to do so.
With over 5 million British Citizens living abroad, it is important for MPs to use this Bill as an opportunity to break down barriers to voting and ensure they are fairly represented.
Best wishes,
[Your name]
[Your address. If overseas also include the address you last lived at in the UK - this shows that you are the MP's constituent]
