Open Letter in support of a residence-based voting rights
October 2021
Open Letter in support of a residence-based voting rights system in England and Northern Ireland - a campaign for an amendment to the Elections Bill by the Young Europeans's Network and Polish Migrants Organised for Change (POMOC).
Dear Kemi Badenoch MP,
Voter eligibility rules in the UK are in need of reform. Current rules are confusing and complex, inevitably leading to lower voter turnout and lack of participation.
As it stands, in English and Northern Irish local elections, EU citizens, Commonwealth, Irish, and British citizens can vote. In devolved national elections in Scotland and Wales, all qualifying foreign residents can vote.
Under the current proposals in the Elections Bill, only EU citizens who arrived in the UK before 2021 and have either pre-settled and settled status will continue to automatically be eligible to vote in local elections in both England and Northern Ireland.
EU citizens who enter the UK from 2021 onwards will only be eligible to vote in local elections if their country of origin has secured a bilateral agreement with the UK. Currently, this has only been secured with Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg. It is very unlikely this will be secured with all EU countries, leading to inequality amongst UK residents in terms of their democratic rights.
Instead of adding complexities to voter eligibility, we believe voting rights should be simplified. We believe in a residence-based voting system.
The OurHomeOurVote campaign is underpinned by the belief that all those who are subjected to local laws and politics should have a claim to political representation.
For this reason, we propose to amend the Elections Bill to allow all residents to have the right to vote and stand in local elections across the UK.
As organisations from the democracy and migration sector, we believe that anyone who lives in a local area and uses public services should be able to have a say in how these are run.
A Global Britain should look to welcome all its international residents who make up the UK’s society.
As such, we support the proposed amendment to the Elections Bill and urge the Government to grant all residents the right to vote at the local level.
Sincerely,
Marzena Zukowska, Director, Polish Migrants Organise for Change (POMOC)
Sarah Jury Keep it Complex - Makit it Clear
Tom Brake, Director, Unlock Democracy
Kyle Taylor, Director, Fair Vote UK
Dora-Olivia Vicol - Work Rights Centre
Mete Coban, CEO, My Life My Say
Christopher Desira, Director, Seraphus
Toby James, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of East Anglia
Christopher Bertram, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, University of Bristol
Tashi Tahir, Parliamentary Officer, We Belong
Maria Sobolewska, Professor of Political Science, University of Manchester
Nishan Dzhingozyan, Bulgarian Community Project (Edmonton)
Zrinka Bralo, CEO, Migrants Organise
Minnie Rahman, Interim CEO, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
Agnete Gribkowski, Editor, HJT Training
Robert Ford, Professor of Political Science, University of Manchester
Sylvia Ingmire, CEO Roma Support Group
Dr Ruvi Ziegler, Chair, New Europeans - UK
Denise McDowell, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU)
Mark Kieran, Chief Executive, Open Britain
Malwina Kukaj, Chair, Polish Klan Association
Migrants in Culture
Barbara Drozdowicz, CEO, East European Resource Centre
Chris Martin, CEO, The Mix
Indre Lechtimiakyte, Legal and Migrant Support Manager, Samphire Project
Elzbieta Kardynal, MD at European’s Welfare Association CIC
Michael MULVEY, Outreach Coordinator, Independent Constitutionalists UK
Dolores Modern, Policy & Communications Coordinator on Employment Rights, Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS)
Elzbieta Kardynal, European’s Welfare Association CIC
Mayowa Ayodele, Digital Editor & Communications Manager, Operation Black Vote
Titus Alexander, Democracy Matters
Peter Rees, ESRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Aberystwyth University
Matteo Bergamini, CEO & Founder, Shout Out UK
Klina Jordan, Co-Chief Executive, Make Votes Matter, personal capacity
Will Stringer, Campaigner, Sortition Foundation
Grassroots for Europe signatories:
Richard Wilson, Chair, Grassroots for Europe
Caroline Kuipers - Open Britain Reading and Berkshire
John Clutterbuck. Bicester Community Twinning Association
George Longstaff, European Movement National Council
Peter leisupe, Chair, Berkshire for Europe
Louise Brown, Co-founder North East for Europe
Deborah Newton-Cook, ProEuropa Bxl
Rachel Holland, member, Croydon for Europe
Jas Olak, Vice Chair Leeds for Europe
Richard Harman, Committee Member, North Somerset for Europe
Richard Jones, Chair, Herefordshire for Europe
Robina Jacobson, North East for Europe.
John Truss, member Leeds for Europe
Judith King, retired GP, member of EU in Brum
Mark Bennett, member of EM & Herefordshire for Europe
Pauline Allon, member, Leeds for Europe and member of EM
Sue Wilson, Chair, Bremain in Spain
Juliet Lodge, Prof EM and Jean Monnet Prof; co-founder of Women for Europe
Lilian and Tony McCobb, members of EM (East Yorkshire) & Grassroots for Europe
Gillian Chowns, member of EM and Herefordshire for Europe
Denis MacShane, former Minister of Europe
Jacquelyn Williams Durkin, Leeds for Europe
Ian Clark, retired , member of European Movement Brussels
Tamsin Shasha, Vice Chair Grassroots For Europe
Simon Ferrigno, Chair, European Movement Derbyshire
Amanda Holden, Member Stratford 4 Europe and Member of the European Movement
Dr Saskia Huc-Hepher, member of Lambeth for Europe
Neil Cameron Oxford European Association
Debra Kelly, European Movement, Stay European
Andy Chapman, member of EM and East Herts for Europe
Tom Pratt, Convener, EU in Brum
Gavin Budge, Chair, North Herts for Europe
Janet Ashton, member of Leeds for Europe
Sarah Moliver member Cheltenham for Europe
Judy Mason Steering Group Member, Stratford for Europe
Mark Bennett, member of EM & Herefordshire for Europe
Sheila Tremlett, Member, Oxford for Europe
Karen Austin, member of European Movement UK, Treasurer of St Albans for Europe
Sarah Cowley, Chair, Dorset for Europe
Jane Fieldsend, Member, Norfolk for Europe
Michelle Duhig, Wiltshire Alliance for Europe
Brigitte Walker Member Suffolk for Europe
Maureeen Macey, Member of E Herts for EU
Ralph Elia, Member of Devizes for EU
Tamsin Shasha, Grassroots for Europe
