Ex Pats

[Agent 47]

Hi again political discussion forum.

This is aimed at being a serious thread and i'd hope it's successful enough to garner the opinions of our International friends aswell as my fellow UK citizens.

Last week i read a story on the BBC website about a WWII veteran who now resides in Italy. He's taking the UK to the court over his right to vote.

My question to you all is this. Should Ex Pats be allowed the right to vote"?

After careful thought and taking in to account this guy served King and country in WWII my answer would have to be no. He made a decision to live in Italy and in my opinion has forfeited his right to say what goes on this country.

Many Brits for example live it large in places like Spain and wherever else takes their fancy and only come back when it suits them, namely getting free treatment off the NHS >>

Moving overseas on a permanent basis is a choice and as such i don't think it's fair they retain their rights and privilages to vote when clearly what goes on doesn't effect them as they chose to longer live here.

[Cochrane]

I think they should have the right to vote somewhere. Whether that somewhere is the home country or where they are residing is of little importance to me, though. But since that guy can't vote in Italian elections, I think it's only fair that he can still vote in british ones, because decisions by the british government still affect him, even if it isn't as direct as for others.

[jajay119]

Hmmm, I've never thought about this before! Good topic.

I think it's a difficult call. On one hand regardless of where someone lives they are still british born and that should automatically entitle them to a vote. But then they do not live in this country and do not benefit/suffer from the effects of voting. So you could argue that as they do not live here full time then their vote could be considered to be null. Some could say it's picking and choosing which is kind of true, would be be so quick to carry on paying council tax despite not living here? I think not. However, how long is/has/ will he be there? I was an ex pat for 12 months due to my course of study but I always knew I was returning at the end of the twelve months and had it been an election year I would have liked a vote. Like I said. It's a difficult call and I think ex pats, depending on their situation of residency, really should have a vote in the country in which they live not the one in which they were born.

[Dennis's Mom]

As long as they haven't resigned their citizenship, they should have the right to vote.

[MiCkiZ88]

In the case they return to their home country I guess. I lived as an Ex Pat in NL and I was allowed to vote for my home country even though I said I will move there permanently.

[Agent 47]

Thanks all for the responses so far, was very interesting reading all of your views on this subject and some good points where raised.

@jajay
I think getting educated overseas or indeed taking a job that may take you abroad is fine. I don't have an issue with those two circumstances as they are work/education based reasons for moving.

@Cochrane
Again an intersting view. Maybe they should just take up citizenship of the countries they now choose to reside in? I don't really like this pick and choose approach "i'll live overseas for the rest of my days but be damned i want my right to vote in my native land"

Again all the above points/opinions are appreciated, especially from non UK members :D

[Mad Tony]

Depends how much they go back to their original country. However, on the whole I'd say no as they don't actually live in that country therefore shouldn't be able to influence a government that won't affect them.

[patriots88888]

Chad Ochocinco

http://i46.tinypic.com/2r3z1ns.gif