See "Electoral Franchise: Who can Vote"
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02208.pdf
"Parliamentary elections
. British or Commonwealth citizens who are resident in the UK
. Citizens of the Irish Republic who are resident in the UK
. In Northern Ireland, electors must have been resident in Northern Ireland
during the
whole of the three-month period prior to the relevant date of 15 October
. British nationals living overseas are entitled to vote for up to 15 years
after moving
abroad. An overseas voter should register in the constituency covering the
address for
where they were last registered within the UK. (someone who has never been
registered as an elector in the UK is not be eligible to register as an
overseas voter
unless they left the UK before they were 18, providing that they left the
country no
more than 15 years ago)
. Service/Crown personnel serving in the UK or overseas in the armed forces
or with
Her Majesty's Government
. Homeless people can register using a declaration of local connection
. Residents of mental hospitals (but see B below) and remand prisoners"
"Citizens of EU countries other than the UK or Irish Republic (or Cyprus or
Malta, which are Commonwealth countries as well as EU countries) cannot vote
in Westminster parliamentary elections, although they can register to vote
at local government, devolved legislature and European Parliament elections.
Citizens of any other countries are not eligible to register. People who do
not have leave to enter or remain in the UK may not be included in the
electoral register, and consequently are not entitled to vote."
Crudely British, Commonwealth and Irish citizens can vote in all elections
EU citizens (other than Cyprus and Malta) can vote in other than Westminster
elections
Therefore knowing which passport the resident is entitled to determines
which entitlement that person has to vote.
Nick Landau
PS I wouldn't fancy my chances registering as a homeless person in Barnet.
(See above Homeless people can register using a declaration of local
connection)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carter, Antoinette (MCS)" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Nick Landau" <[log in to unmask]>;
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, November 09, 2006 10:30 AM
Subject: RE: [data-protection] Barnet Council requiring Utility Bill to
Register to Vote
Actually to be fair I understand why they put the Nationality question -
given that "nationality" is baed on "your country of birth, origin or
naturalisation", someone can be born abroad and still hold a British
passport, and vice versa.
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Landau
Sent: 08 November 2006 20:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Barnet Council requiring Utility Bill to
Register to Vote
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roland Perry" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 6:19 PM
Subject: Re: [data-protection] Barnet Council requiring Utility Bill to
Register to Vote
> In message <002a01c70360$61abeef0$6ebb8556@Nick>, at 18:04:48 on Wed,
> 8 Nov 2006, Nick Landau <[log in to unmask]> writes
>
>>http://www.barnet.gov.uk/register-of-electors-form.pdf
>
> There are still oddities:
>
> Q5 Please state your Nationality:
> (which passport do you hold)
>
> There are people who live in the UK who don't have passports.
I imagine that it is helping people to identify what their nationality
by asking them which passport they hold (and presumably if they don't
hold one which one they would apply for). These forms have the Crystal
Clear campaign on their heels.
>
> Q9 is also somewhat moot if you have just arrived from abroad (either
> as an immigrating EU resident or a returning ex-pat)
Q9 and Q10 are after the signature and therefore, I suspect, are not
part of the form proper.
If you were living outside the country then you would say so.
The registration process is intended to be as simple as possible.
In fact, Page 2 shows that this form is specifically intended for the
following categories:
"Moved Home? Coming up to 18? Or just not on the Register!"
The http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk website doesn't even assume that you
know which local authority area you live in. You just enter your
postcode and it will tell you what council that is and it will generate
the address of the appropriate Electoral Registration Officer.
Nick Landau
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