EU Voting and Candidacy Rights

European Union Voting and Candidacy Rights (EUVCR)

European Union (EU) citizens will no longer be automatically entitled to register to vote or stand for election due to changes from the Elections Act 2022. The EUVCR provisions came into effect on 7 May 2024.

Two groups of EU citizens will be eligible to retain their voting and candidacy rights:

Group 1-Qualifying EU citizens: Citizens from EU countries with a reciprocal agreement with the UK Government. These countries are currently Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain. These EU citizens qualify through their nationality.

Group 2-EU citizens with retained rights: EU citizens who have continuously had permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, or who have not needed permission. These EU citizens qualify through their retained rights.

One or more of the following must have applied to you before 31 December 2020 and has continued without a break to qualify under Group 2-EU citizens with retained rights:

• settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, except if you applied as a joining family member
• indefinite or limited Leave to Enter or Remain in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man
• resident in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man but exempt from immigration controls

These changes will not affect the rights of citizens from Ireland, Malta or Cyprus.

More information about the Elections Act 2022 and the changes for EU citizens can be found atUK Parliament (opens new window) and the Electoral Commission (opens new window).

Voting rights

We will write to electors who are 'Qualifying EU citizens' and 'EU citizens with retained rights' to inform them that they are eligible to remain registered to vote and that they do not need to take any further action.

We are required to identify EU citizens who will need to have their eligibility reviewed as part of an Eligibility Confirmation Review. Initial review letters will be sent out on or around 27 September 2024. If you do not respond to the request for information about your eligibility or to any further requests for additional information which may be required, the Electoral Registration Officer will determine that you are no longer eligible and your entry will be removed from the electoral register.

Candidacy rights

Transitional arrangements will enable EU citizens who were elected to office before 7 May 2024 to remain in office. From 7 May 2024, EU citizens will be eligible to stand as a candidate if they are 'Qualifying EU citizens' or are 'EU citizens with retained rights'.