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Changes to EU citizens' voting and candidacy rights

As part of the measures introduced as part of the Elections Act 2022, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) must review all European Union citizens that are registered to vote. This does not apply to citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Malta or Cyprus.

Changes to EU citizen voting and candidacy rights include:

  • EU citizens are no longer automatically entitled to register, vote, and stand for election
  • Two groups of EU citizens retain their rights:
     
    • 'Qualifying EU citizens' from countries with reciprocal agreements, and who have leave, or do not require it, to remain in the UK - currently Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Spain
    • 'EU citizens with retained rights' who were residents in the UK before 31 December 2020 - i.e. before the UK left the EU

The changes to EU citizen voting and candidacy rights apply to all local elections and referendums in England.

The changes took effect after the May 2024 Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain were written to in September 2024 asking for confirmation stating that they remain eligible to be registered to vote.

For citizens of other EU countries, the ERO checked historical electoral register records to verify their residence in the UK before 31 December 2020. If this could not be confirmed, they were sent a letter or email requesting confirmation of their eligibility to remain registered under the new criteria. Those that did not respond received a personal contact, either by phone or home visit.

Further information about this process can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Following the conclusion of the review, those electors who failed to respond were removed from the register on 3 February 2025.

Any elector removed that is still eligible can re-register online.

Register to vote

If you have gained new citizenship or changed your nationality since you last registered to vote, re-register to vote online. Changes to your citizenship or nationality may affect your eligibility to vote in some elections.

If you have any queries, contact electoralservices@waverley.gov.uk