British citizens living abroad have less than a week to register to vote in the 4 July UK general election. The deadline for eligible voters to register in Grand Cayman is at 5:59pm (BST 11:59pm) on Tuesday, 18 June.
“For the first time, British citizens living abroad may be eligible to vote regardless of how long they have been living outside the UK,” advised a press release from the Governor’s Office.
As of January, the UK no longer restricts the voting rights of citizens that have lived abroad for more than 15 years.
Voter registration applications can be submitted online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Applicants must provide details of their last registered address in the UK.
“Electoral Registration Officers, which are responsible for the electoral roll in their area, must be able to verify an applicant’s identity and past connection to the area,” the Governor’s Office said.
British voters travelling overseas during the election should register for a postal vote by 11am (5pm BST) on Wednesday, 19 June 2024. Those applications can be submitted at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
The deadline for proxy voting applications is at 11am (5pm BST) on 26 June. Proxy voting is when a trusted person votes on another’s behalf. Applications can be submitted at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote.
“Proxy voting,” the Governor’s Office explained, “may be a preferred option for anyone living further afield who is concerned about how long it might take to receive and return a postal vote”.
To verify voting eligibility, British citizens may contact the local authority where they were last registered to vote or last lived in the UK. Details on local authorities can be found online at https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information.
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