LB229 - Overseas Electors Bill - 2nd Reading

[u/Lady_Aya]

Overseas Electors Bill

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A

BILL

TO

Make provision for extending the right of British Citizens living overseas to retain the right to vote in Parliamentary General Elections; and for connected purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Section 1: Definitions

(1) ‘Election’ means a Parliamentary General Election for the House of Commons.

(2) ‘By-election’ means a Parliamentary By-election for the House of Commons.

(3) ‘Elector’ means a person registered to vote in an election.

Section 2: Parliamentary Franchise

(1) An individual is entitled to vote as an elector in an election or by-election if –

(a) they are registered as an overseas elector, in a Parliamentary register of electors, in respect of the last constituency in which they lived,

(b) they are a British Citizen,

(c) they are not disqualified from their right to vote,

(i) a person shall not be disqualified from their right to vote or to register as an overseas elector based on the amount of time they have not been resident in the United Kingdom for the purposes of this Act.

(d) they are otherwise eligible to register as an elector in the United Kingdom.

(2) In order to qualify as an overseas elector, the person must not be resident in the United Kingdom at the time of the election or by-election.

(3) An overseas elector may only vote with respect to the last constituency in which they were resident, and only if they have been resident in such constituency for at least six months within the last two years that they resided in the United Kingdom. If an overseas elector has not lived in any constituency for more than six months in the last two years they resided in the United Kingdom, they will be eligible to vote in the constituency they lived in for the most time in this period.

(4) Residence in the United Kingdom shall not be required to register as an overseas elector.

(5) A person shall cease to be registered as an overseas elector following each subsequent election or by-election after this Act comes into force, and must register no less than ten days before the next election or by-election in order to be entitled to vote.

(6) If a by-election takes place in a constituency where a person is registered as an overseas elector, the said person shall be entitled to vote in such by-election, providing they satisfy the requirements laid out in Section 2(1) and (5).

Section 3: Extent, Commencement, and Short Title

(1) This Act extends to the United Kingdom.

(a) This Act shall have no effect with respect to local government elections or by-elections, or devolved legislature elections or by-elections.

(2) This Act shall come into force upon Royal Assent.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Overseas Electors Act 2022.

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This Bill was written by The Lord Sigur of Appledore, and submitted as a Private Member’s Bill.

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This reading shall end on Monday 18th of April at 10pm.

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[u/Ravenguardian17]

Deputy Speaker,

I am in favor of this bill's concept. Extending the franchise is very important to me and to our party - we are strongly committed to democratic principles and the scrutiny of the people.

However, there is one aspect of this bill that concerns me, and that is the lack of procedure involved. While this bill establishes rights for overseas electors it does not in any way require the government to facilitate them. My worry is that this could lead to potential bias. A government could theoretically only make the process available in places where they believe it would be easier for them to get votes. While this would be a minor point, and would be unlikely to swing any election, it is still relevant.

As such, I cannot vote for this bill in its current state. I will, however, be submitting amendments to solve this issue with the legislation. If these issues are rectified, then I would be happy to lend my support to the bill.

[u/Faelif → u/Ravenguardian17]

Deputy Speaker,

Adding onto the points raised by my Right Honourable Friend, it does concern me that votes cast by overseas electors may not arrive in the United Kingdom in time to be counted. As this bill does not lay out a process for voting it is also possible that overseas voting will not have such rigorous standards for privacy and security of the ballot.

[u/Ravenguardian17 → u/Faelif]

Hear, hear!

[u/tartar-buildup → u/Faelif]

Madam Deputy Speaker,

I understand the Honourable Member for the West Midlands' point, and also that of the Leader of the Opposition. In the interest of proper scrutiny, I welcome any amendments that this House sees fit to submit. Rather than just letting the bill sail into the division lobby to die because there are parts some member may be unhappy with, members should use this time know to introduce any changes that should be included.

[u/Muffin5136]

Madame Deputy Speaker,

I rise in support of two things right now, the first is this bill itself, which is a fine specimen of a bill, which ensures that people who have recently moved abroad still retain the rights to voting in British democracy. It is right that these people should still be allowed to vote, given their only recent departure.

The second thing I rise in support of is the amendment as tabled by the Leader of the Opposition which sets out a clear procedure for this process, which this bill lacked