BRITISH expats are being urged to vote in the EU referendum on 23rd June to decide whether the United Kingdom will remain in the European Union.
On Wednesday the British High Commissioner to Cyprus, His Excellency Mr Ric Todd, spoke to a packed house about the EU referendum at a meeting organised by my Rotary Club at the Crowne Plaza in Limassol and answered questions from the floor.
His Excellency stressed that the decision will affect all UK citizens, their families and their children for decades to come, regardless of whether they are living in the UK or overseas.
He also pointed out that time was running out and that UK citizens living overseas need to apply to register to vote by 16th May 2016 and once registered, must apply to vote by post or proxy in order to be able to vote from outside the UK.
Postal ballot papers will be sent to all eligible overseas voters that are registered to vote by post in time for the first despatch between 23rd and 27th May. Those who apply to register at a later date will be sent ballot papers after their registration is confirmed.
Which UK expats are eligible to vote?
To register as an overseas voter, British citizens must have been registered in a UK constituency less than 15 years ago.
UK expats can vote by post, by appointing someone to vote on their behalf or even in person at their home polling station if they visit the UK on polling day.
Electoral Commission spokesman Alex Robertson said: “A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s possible to register as an overseas voter for certain UK polls.”
UK Expats can register to vote online here.
In addition Cypriot citizens living in the UK who have leave to remain in the UK or who do not require leave to remain in the UK are eligible to vote if they are 18 years of age or over.
YouTube video of extracts from the British High Commissioner’s talk in English/Greek from a CyBC news report:
I have lived in Cyprus for 25 years so I am not eligible to vote. Does the same 15 year rule apply to Greek Cypriots living in England?
(Ed: No – Cypriot citizens living in the UK who have leave to remain in the UK or who do not require leave to remain in the UK are eligible to vote if they are 18 years of age or over.)