UK Expats Urged To Vote In Upcoming EU Parliamentary Elections

UK expats living and working in European member states are being urged to vote in the upcoming EU parliamentary election.

Taking place between 23 and 26 May, the election determines members of the EU parliament, and are especially important this year due to Brexit. Expats have the right to vote along with UK citizens, with elected MPs able to make their views known on any aspect of European interest including Brexit, perhaps the hottest topic on the upcoming agenda. Expats who left the UK less than 15 years ago are entitled to vote, either by post or by proxy. Registering as a new expat voter is now impossible as the deadline for registration has now passed, but registering for a proxy vote may still be possible.

European and UK media are seeing this vote as either a protest against Brexit or a confirmation of the original vote to leave the EU. Normally seeing a low turnout, this May’s EU election is expected to have a far larger number of Britons casting their votes, especially due to Farage’s new pro-Brexit political party. It’s also believed the British public may use the vote to register their opinions over the chaos in Parliament caused by the referendum result. Farage’s party is polling high, reflecting the anger in the UK over the entire ongoing mess, but remainers are expected to fight for the right to have a second referendum now that the reality of the Brexit effect on the UK economy is understood.

For those committed to using their vote as a protest against the EU/UK divorce, pro-remain Change UK, Plaid Cymru, the Lib Dems and the Scottish National Party are all committed to ending Brexit, with voting for anti-Brexit candidates from either the Labour or Conservative Parties is also the way to go. For once, expat absentee, postal and proxy votes may actually swing the balance between even more chaos and recovery.