November 4th, 2009 | 
Author: Some of the 20,000 British expatriates in the Dordogne region may lose their say in the next British general election.
Less than 13,000 of the 5.5 million British citizens living abroad worldwide have registered to vote in the upcoming UK general election according to the Electoral Commission.
Though British citizens who live overseas can register as overseas voters if they have been on the electoral register in the past 15 years, in December 2008 there were only 12,874 voters registered as overseas voters.
In 2006 the report ‘Brits Abroad’ found that France was the most popular choice for British emigres within the EU, with over 200,000 people choosing to extend a French holiday to a more permanent arrangement. Out of these 20,000 have settled in the Dordogne region, roughly one tenth of the total number.
The Electoral Commission, an independent body that acts as the UK’s elections watchdog, has launched a campaign trying to encourage UK citizens abroad to register to vote ahead of the announcement of the general election.
As a general election is certain to take place by June 2010, the commission says that voters should register as soon as possible. Even those who were too young to vote when they left the UK can register in the last place their parent or guardian was registered.
Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission, said: “British citizens living abroad come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but we know that most maintain strong links with the UK. It is easier than ever before for British citizens abroad to keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues back home and many will also want to have their say in elections.”
“Anyone that wants to register should go to www.aboutmyvote.co.uk for more information and to download a registration form. But as an election can be called at short notice, they should do so now.” me of the
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