'Thousands' of British citizens living abroad denied vote in EU elections due to administrative errors

Postal ballots not turning up on time

Thousands of British nationals living abroad have been deprived of their votes in today’s elections due to administrative errors by UK authorities, according to widespread reports.

British In Europe, which represents UK nationals living in the EU, said “postal votes have gone missing, arrived late or simply didn’t arrive at all”.

For European Parliament elections, British citizens who live abroad can choose to either vote in their host country or back in Britain – with many choosing to vote in the UK this year because of the effect of Brexit on their lives.

Most of these votes are conducted using a postal vote, with proxy voting also an option. People who live abroad for more than 15 years lose the right to vote at home.

The reports of disenfranchisement come amid related widespread claims of EU nationals living in the UK getting turned away from polling stations.

Jane Golding, co-chair of British In Europe, said “hundreds if not thousands” of British nationals will have “been effectively disenfranchised in this vote, and previous national votes, by a combination of administration procedures that are not fit for purpose and the lack of resource to overcome them”.

She said: “Add into that no central body looking after our disapora and we have the perfect storm. It comes as no surprise whatsoever that postal votes have gone missing, arrived late or simply didn’t arrive at all because the UK's attitude to its overseas voters is outdated and broken.

“Just applying similar rules to someone in Germany or Spain as someone who lives 100 metres away from their local Council doesn't make sense and then sending ballots out using the cheapest route when there is an imminent deadline is nothing short of reckless.

“The UK needs to get its act together, give all its citizens a vote wherever they live and set up 21st century procedures for dealing with its overseas voters. Democracy matters, our votes matter. Other countries manage it, so can the UK.”

The Cabinet Office, which is in charge of elections, declined to comment on the record about the problems when approached by The Independent.

Officials however said it was the responsibility of local returning officers to make sure postal ballot papers were sent out on time, and that the government providing some funding and advance to help postal votes get to the right place on time.