Recommendation 27

HM Government Acknowledged

The intention behind the proposed changes to EU citizens’ voting and candidacy rights is to update the franchise to appropriately reflect that the UK has left the European Union, and that the concept of the UK participating in joint EU citizenship has ended. To this end, the Bill’s provisions are focused on the retention of existing rights, rather than the creation of new ones. With reference to the recommendation that consideration be given to the extension of the franchise to all residents, the Government’s position remains unchanged: that is, that the right to reside in the UK should not automatically confer the right to participate in our democratic processes. This approach is not unusual: nationality restrictions on voting are a common feature of most democracies. It may be possible for citizens of other countries who have lived here for more than five years to apply for UK citizenship, should they wish to become a citizen and vote in all UK elections. This provides a well-understood and established route for those who integrate fully into our society to become part of our democratic process. Within this context, the provisions in the Bill do two key things. Firstly, they recognise our commitment to respecting the established rights of those EU citizens who were already resident in the UK at the time of our departure from the EU. Secondly, by moving towards a future position whereby the grant of rights rests on the principle of mutuality, as expressed through agreements with individual nation states in the EU, the Government ensures that we are protecting the existing rights of British citizens living in EU countries, as well as the rights of EU citizens. We are working closely with stakeholders and the electoral community to ensure that the associated new registration processes are as accessible, efficient, and clear as possible - for both electors and administrators.