Around 800,000 expats voters who are thought to live in Europe have not been granted the right to vote in this year’s referendum.
They had indicated before ruling that if they lost they would appeal to UK’s supreme court so that is now highly likely.
Lord Justice Lloyd Jones delivered ruling this week, saying that the EU Referendum Bill as it stands does not breach expats’ rights of free movement under EU law.
This ruling only relates to expats falling under 15 year rule who live in EU countries.
The legal challenge was brought by 94-year-old Second World War veteran Harry Shindler, who lives in Italy, and lawyer and Belgian resident Jacquelyn MacLennan.
They argued they were being illegally denied the chance to vote because they have lived in other European countries for more than 15 years.
British subjects living the US can vote on the referendum but are also subject to the 15-year rule and must be registered in the UK’s electoral rolls.
The British government pledged to change what is known as the “15-year-rule” in the Queen’s speech to Parliament after the 2015 election, but the changes will not apply to the 2016 UK EU referendum, which will be held on June 23rd.
For more details visit www.electoralcommission.org.uk
Who can vote in the referendum?:
Anyone who would be entitled to vote in a parliamentary election in the UK has the right to participate in the in/out vote on the EU. This includes:
- British citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK
- Irish citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK (due to historically close Anglo-Irish links)
- Maltese and Cypriots over 18 who are resident in the UK (other EU citizens will not)
- Commonwealth-born citizens over 18 who are resident in the UK
- British expats who have lived overseas for less than 15 years
- Irish citizens who were born in Northern Ireland and have registered to vote in Nothern Ireland in the last 15 years
- Commonwealth citizens in Gibraltar over 18
- Members of the House of Lords in Gibraltar will also be entitled to vote
