EU Citizens Review 2024

Changes to European Union Voting and Candidacy Rights

From 7 May 2024, following a change to legislation, European Union (EU) electors will only be able to vote or stand at Local Government elections in England if they are:

• A qualifying EU citizen - a citizen from EU countries with reciprocal agreements with the UK, currently Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain (referred to as the EU5), or:

• An EU citizen with retained rights - EU citizens from other EU countries who were legally resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 (referred to as the EU19).

Note: Citizens from Ireland, Malta, or Cyprus will retain their voting rights in all UK elections while resident in the UK.

EU citizens will continue to be able to vote while they remain on the register, but will not be able to re-register if they are taken off following the review process.

Eligibility Confirmation Review Process

Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are required to conduct a review of all European Citizens that are registered to vote.

If the ERO is unable to confirm that an EU voter has resided in the UK before 31 December 2020, through checking historical electoral register records, a letter or email will be sent to that voter to confirm whether they remain eligible to be registered under the new criteria.

We have begun writing to all EU citizens currently registered on the Electoral Register to either:

• confirm that they are being retained on the register following a data-based review as being a qualifying EU citizen or having retained rights - no further action is required; or
• ask EU citizens to confirm if they remain eligible to be registered to vote under the new criteria. This will be done by asking electors to confirm if they meet the new historical residency requirements. Electors can receive up to three review notices from us by email, letter and a personal contact.

If an EU citizen receives correspondence that requires them to confirm their historical residency, please follow the instructions contained in the e-mail or letter as soon as possible to avoid subsequent correspondence.

If you have received a letter informing you that you are still eligible to vote, you do not need to do anything further. You remain eligible and can vote in upcoming elections (excluding UK Parliamentary elections).

If you have gained new citizenship or changed your nationality

If you have gained new citizenship or changed your nationality since you have last registered to vote, you should let us know.

The changes to your citizenship or nationality may affect your eligibility to vote in some elections and you might need to re-register to vote.

To re-register to vote visit the register to vote webpage .

More information on European Union Voting

Further information can be found on the following Electoral Commission webpages:

• The Eligibility Confirmation and Review Process for European Union Citizens

• Can a citizen from the European Union register to vote?

If you have any further queries please contact elections@stratford-dc.gov.uk