Electoral wombats

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:02:55 GMT

As a British citizen living abroad, I can in theory still play my part in the democratic process by registering to be an overseas elector. I say in theory because there's a wrinkle or two...

In order to register, I have to fill in a form giving (amongst other things) my last-UK address and my passport number. Then I sign it, and my signature has to be witnessed by a non-UK-resident British citizen holding a UK passport who is not closely related to me. They don't have to know me; they just have to witness my signature and state that I am, to the best of their knowledge, not living in the UK at the time I sign the form.

Well, I can probably whistle up a fellow expat or two at work. All well and good. However, being an overseas elector isn't enough for practical purposes, because I'd still have to get myself down to the blinking polling station on polling day, wtf...! I suppose this makes more sense for people who are regular visitors to the UK.

All is not lost, for I can register to be a proxy or postal overseas voter. Postal votes are also impractical, as the ballots can be sent out as close as 4 working days to polling day, and have to be returned before the close of polls. As if that's going to happen. (It takes the best part of a week for airmail to get here. Even couriered documents don't take anything less than 4 days IMLE.)

Thankfully I know several people back home, some of whom I might even be willing to appoint as a proxy. It seems they don't even have to be local to Cambridge as they could in turn apply for a postal proxy vote. So there is an answer in here, struggling to get out, but I fear filing cabinets in disused toilets are involved...

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Electoral wombats