Lib Dems Abroad urge Brits overseas to register to vote ahead of tomorrow’s 18th June deadline and appoint a UK-based proxy

Lib Dems Abroad urge Brits overseas to register to vote ahead of tomorrow’s 18th June deadline and appoint a UK-based proxy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With less than three weeks to go until the UK General Election on 4th July, British citizens overseas have only until midnight BST tomorrow (18th June) to register to vote. And because many local councils will only begin sending out postal ballot papers from this Wednesday (19th June), just 15 days before polling day, eligible British voters overseas are strongly advised to appoint a UK-based proxy.

The proxy does not have to live in the same constituency as the overseas voter and can live anywhere in the UK and vote by post.

The deadline for nominating a proxy is 5pm BST on Wednesday, 26th June. However, the person acting as proxy would have to apply for a postal vote by 5pm this Wednesday (19th June).

Lib Dems Abroad conducted a small-scale experiment which shows that it will prove almost impossible for ballots to be returned on time using overseas postal services. That’s why appointing a UK-based proxy makes sense, even if that person does not live in the same constituency.

Last month, Lib Dems Abroad sent letters to their members at 13 postal addresses across the world, asking for the letters to be posted back within 48 hours.

The outcome was clear-cut. Only the German postal service was fast enough, and even that was not by a margin that should be relied on. (See table below).

Rather than desperately having to send ballots back by courier firms as some overseas voters have done in the past, eligible voters would be better advised to appoint a proxy to ensure their votes reach the UK in time for the election count on 4th July.

George Cunningham, Chair of Lib Dems Abroad Steering Committee, said:
“Right from the beginning, we told the government that ballot papers should best be delivered electronically. We all know postal services around the world cannot be trusted.

That’s why there was a widespread suspicion that the Tory party was more interested in increasing their donor base than genuinely promoting greater democracy.

Under the current circumstances, getting a UK-based proxy is strongly recommended. And better still, a postal proxy who doesn't need to live in the same constituency as the overseas voter.”

Please register to vote immediately. For more information, go to https://britsabroad.vote

Notes to editors
• The Liberal Democrats are a UK political party which aims to build a fair, free and open society.
• Lib Dems Abroad comprises of UK Liberal Democrat party members living outside the UK and has three constituent organisations: Lib Dems in Europe (Chair David Sapiro), Lib Dems in France (Chair Jenny Shorten) and Lib Dems Overseas (Chair George Cunningham, who also chairs the Lib Dems Abroad steering committee). All three chairs are available for interview.
• Lib Dems Abroad have been reaching out to British voters overseas to ensure they are fully informed of their new voting rights, as requested of UK political parties by the Electoral Commission. For more information about the electoral changes, go to https://www.britsabroad.vote/
Contact information
● press@libdemsabroad.org
● Stuart Pallister +34 675 612 355 (WhatsApp)