ISSUE NO. 1596
4 - 10 February 2016
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH
YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
Brexit: Have your say! EXPATS encouraged to vote in EU referendum
By Keith Baker WITH a referendum on the UK’s membership to the EU promised for the very near future, the Electoral Commission has launched a campaign to increase the number of British citizens overseas registered to vote. The British Ambassador, Simon Manley, was on the Costa Blanca this week to support the campaign and help raise awareness amongst the British population here in Spain. There are 280,000 British citizens registered on the ‘padron’ in Spain, but the actual number living here is believed to be much
higher. There are only 11,000 registered to vote, however, and this is what the campaign aims to address. Part of the reason for the low percentage of registered voters is the current rule which prevents those who have lived here for more than 15 years from voting. Although the Government has promised to lift this ban, it is not expected to happen before the referendum. Simon Manley said: “Interest among expats in the EU referendum is high, but awareness that you may be able to vote is low. We want as many expats as possible to be aware that they can have their say.”
Asked what a ‘No’ vote would mean, Mr Manley said: “We don’t know what the position might be. It will depend on a fresh negotiation with our European partners about the terms of the relationship we will have.” If you were registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, then you can register as an overseas voter and have your say. Go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and fill in your data with your passport details and national insurance number if you have it, and choose how you want to vote. Postal ballot papers will be despatched about a month ahead of the referendum.
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