Britons living in France regain right to vote in UK elections

After years of campaigning, Britons living long-term overseas have won back their right to vote in UK elections. Up until now, there has been a 15-year cut-off when British expats living overseas would lose their automatic right to vote in the UK. Many Britons living in France are pleased with this news, and it’s also positive from those looking to move to France whilst retaining strong ties back to the UK.

Will all British expats in France be able to vote at the next UK general election?

The new legislation means that British expats living in France will be able to vote at the next general election when it’s called by prime minister, Rishi Sunak. Expats will be able to register in the last UK constituency where they voted, or previously lived.

The new legislation does not have full support from everyone in parliament, with some arguing that British policies are no longer relevant to Expats who have lived outside the UK for a long time. Whilst many Britons living in France argue that UK policies still have a big impact on the health and care for elderly expats, British children who go back to the UK to study at school or university, and situations where there is a non-British spouse.

How can I register to vote?

If you’re a Briton living in France you can register to vote here on the UK government website. It’s handy to have your UK passport, national Insurance number and last UK address to complete the registration. If you haven’t registered to vote in the UK before, you will need to provide proof that you lived in the UK previously. For more information the group ‘British in Europe’ have a useful FAQ section here.

Our team in France

A large number of our property buyers, vendors and team members are British, and whilst France is now home for many of us, we’re delighted with this news as it makes it easier for those who want to easily retain their links back to the UK. There was also good news recently for British second home owners in France, after the French government changed the rules so they can stay in the country for up to 6 months with a new “automatic” visa. If you’re looking to buy a French home or sell, our team would be delighted to help. You can contact us here or drop into one of our estate agencies.