Commonwealth: UK Elections

House of Lords written question – answered at on 7 January 2014.

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Photo of Lord Bowness Lord Bowness Conservative

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when a country leaves the Commonwealth or is suspended from membership, whether any citizens of that country resident in the United Kingdom who do not also hold a United Kingdom passport remain eligible to vote in United Kingdom Parliamentary elections.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether citizens of countries which apply for and are accepted into membership of the Commonwealth, who are resident within the United Kingdom and who do not also hold a United Kingdom passport, become eligible to vote in United Kingdom Parliamentary elections.

Photo of Lord Bates Lord Bates Lords Spokesperson (Department for Work and Pensions), Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Citizens of countries who have been accepted into membership of the Commonwealth become eligible to vote if their country has been included on the list of Commonwealth countries in Schedule 3 of the British Nationality Act 1981.

When a country is suspended or departs from the Commonwealth, decisions are taken on a case by case basis as to whether its citizens should retain Commonwealth status.

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