Changes to EU citizens' voting and candidacy rights

Changes to EU citizens' voting and candidacy rights include:

• EU citizens will no longer automatically be entitled to register, vote, and stand for election
• Two groups of EU citizens will 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 citizens' voting and candidacy rights will 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 will be sent written confirmation stating that they remain eligible to be registered to vote.

For citizens of other EU countries, the ERO will check historical electoral register records to verify their residence in the UK before 31 December 2020. If this cannot be confirmed, they will be sent a letter or email requesting confirmation of their eligibility to remain registered under the new criteria.

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

If we hold an email address on record, you may receive an email from

electoral.services.waverley.borough.council@notifications.service.gov.uk

If we don't hold an email address, you will receive a letter. Emails and letters will be sent during September and October with reminders being sent in November to those who are required to respond but have failed to do so.

If you receive a letter or email confirming your eligibility:

• No further action is needed. You will remain registered and can vote in upcoming elections, except for UK Parliamentary elections

If you receive a letter or email asking you to confirm your eligibility, you should do one of the following:

• Respond via the GOV.UK website. Details on how to log in will be included in the letter or email we have sent
• Complete the paper form and return it to Electoral Services, Council Offices, The Burys, Godalming GU7 1HR

If you confirm that you don't meet the eligibility criteria, you won't be eligible to remain registered. We will write to you to confirm this.

If you don't respond to any of our communications, we will attempt personal contact either by phone or in person to obtain the information.

If we are unable to make personal contact with you and you haven't responded to our request via letter or email, the ERO will determine that you are no longer eligible to vote and we will write to you to confirm this. If you are eligible, you can re-register to vote online.

Responding to the annual canvass of residents does not count as a response to this review process.

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