EU Citizen Voting Rights

EU citizen voting rights changed from 7 May 2024

Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, voting rights for EU citizens have changed. To be registered to vote, EU citizens living in England must meet new eligibility criteria, based on the country they are from and when they started living in the UK.

To remain registered to vote, an EU citizen living in England (who is not a Commonwealth or Irish citizen) must be either:

• a citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who does not need permission (If you are a citizen of one of these countries and have received this letter, please contact me using the details at the top of this page)
• a citizen of any other EU country who on or before 31 December 2020 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.

Permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (also called Leave to Enter or Remain) means you have a legal immigration status.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, except if you applied as a joining family member, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.

If on or before 31 December 2020, you had indefinite or limited Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, and this has continued without a break, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.

Alternatively, if on or before 31 December 2020 you were resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man but did not need permission to enter or stay because you were exempt from immigration controls, and this has continued without a break, you are eligible to remain registered to vote.

We recently wrote to all EU citizens to either confirm registration eligability or to determine eligibility to remain registered.

If you received a ' Confirmation of your continued registration to vote ' letter, no further action is required.

If you received a ' Changes to voting rights for EU citizens – Information needed'   letter further information is needed.

The easiest way to provide this is online at www.gov.uk/eu-voter-reply , and enter the one-time unique security code included in your letter.

Or you can:

• complete and post the form enclosed in your letter
• phone 01268 882200 or email elections@castlepoint.gov.uk

You can visit electoralcommission.org.uk/EUfor more information about these changes.