From May 2024 and following the UK’s departure from the European Union, voting rights for EU citizens have changed.
To be registered to vote, EU citizens living in England must meet new eligibility criteria, based on the country that they are from and when they started living in the UK.
Two groups of EU citizens will retain their rights:
- Qualifying EU citizens from countries with reciprocal agreements, and who have leave, or do not require it, to remain in the UK, currently: Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain
- EU citizens who were living in the UK before the end of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Period (up to and until 31 December 2020)
If you have received a letter about your eligibility to vote
The Council is required to conduct a review of all European citizens who are registered to vote.
As part of this review, we are contacting all EU citizens to either:
- let them know they are still eligible to vote in some UK elections
- if we are unsure whether they are eligible to vote, to ask them to provide information that will be used to confirm whether they are eligible
If you confirm that you do not meet the eligibility criteria or provide details as requested, you will no longer be eligible to vote.
What do I need to do?
If you have received a letter that confirms that you meet the new eligibility criteria then there is nothing you need to do. You will remain eligible and can vote in upcoming elections in your area but not UK Parliamentary Elections.
If you are asked to provide information to confirm your eligibility, please follow the instructions in the letter. This information will only be shared with the Electoral Registration Office.
You need to either:
- go to www.gov.uk/eu-voter-reply , and use the security codes printed in your letter.
- complete the paper form and return to us
What if I have gained new citizenship or changed nationality?
If you have gained new citizenship or changed your nationality since you last registered to vote then you should re-register using your new nationality. Please visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
The changes to your citizenship or nationality may affect your eligibility to vote in some elections.
Where can I find more information?
More information can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/EU