Voting for EU citizens

Voting for EU citizens

Election law has changed for EU citizens voting or becoming a candidate.

Local elections and Police and Crime Commissioner elections

You can register to vote, stand as a candidate, or vote in these elections if you are a European Union citizen and are either:

  • a qualifying EU citizen - citizens from EU countries with reciprocal agreements with the UK (currently Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain residing in the UK) and has permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (or does not need permission)

    or
     
  • an EU citizen with retained rights - citizens from any other EU country who, on or before 31 December 2020, had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man (or does not need permission) and this has continued without a break

Parliamentary elections

EU citizens can't vote or stand as a candidate in UK Parliament elections.

Citizens from Ireland, Malta, or Cyprus will retain their voting rights in all UK elections while resident in the UK.

Last updated 15 October 2024