The UK Electoral Commission has released updated guidance on voter eligibility across different types of British elections. The guidance explains which foreign nationals can register and vote in various elections across the country. The rules differ depending on the type of election and where the voter lives, meaning that being legally resident in the UK does not automatically give every foreign national the right to vote in every election.
For UK Parliamentary elections, including general elections, the nationality requirements are more restricted. The Electoral Commission states that British citizens, citizens of the Republic of Ireland, and qualifying Commonwealth citizens meet the nationality requirement to register to vote. This means citizens of many Commonwealth countries can potentially vote in UK Parliamentary elections if they also meet the relevant eligibility and residency requirements.
The Electoral Commission's list of Commonwealth countries includes Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Zambia, and several others. A qualifying Commonwealth citizen is generally someone who has permission to enter or remain in the UK, or does not require such permission. The list of Commonwealth countries for electoral registration purposes is extensive and includes Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Cameroon, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gabon, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Citizens of Fiji and Zimbabwe retain certain voting rights despite the two countries having been suspended from the Commonwealth. The voting rights of European Union citizens depend on their nationality and the type of election. Generally, EU citizens cannot vote in UK Parliamentary general elections. However, citizens of Cyprus and Malta are eligible to register to vote in all UK elections because of their particular status. Irish citizens, meanwhile, can also vote in UK Parliamentary elections.
In England, qualifying EU citizens and EU citizens with retained rights can meet the nationality requirement for local government elections. The Electoral Commission says qualifying EU citizens include citizens of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, and Spain who meet the relevant residence and immigration conditions. Citizens of other EU countries may also qualify where they were legally resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 and have continued to meet the relevant conditions.
The rules are broader for local government and Senedd elections in Wales. British citizens, EU citizens, and qualifying Commonwealth citizens meet the nationality requirement for these elections. Qualifying foreign citizens living in Wales can also be registered for local government and Senedd elections, provided they meet the relevant requirements. The voting age also differs across the UK. In Wales, people can vote in Senedd and local government elections from the age of 16, while registration can begin at 14.
Ghana is among the Commonwealth countries listed by the Electoral Commission. A Ghanaian citizen living in the UK may therefore meet the nationality requirement for UK Parliamentary elections as a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, provided the person also satisfies the other requirements for registration and voting. The same Commonwealth status can also be relevant when determining eligibility for local government and other elections covered by the broader franchise. The Electoral Commission stresses that voting eligibility depends not only on nationality but also on factors including age, where a person lives, and their immigration or residence status.
Key points
- Ghanaian citizens living in the UK may be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary elections as qualifying Commonwealth citizens.
- The UK Electoral Commission has published updated guidance on voter eligibility, listing countries whose citizens can vote in different elections.
- The voting rules differ depending on the type of election and where the voter lives.
