I shall be voting on May 7. Will you? I shall be at home in the Virgin Islands, but a friend in England will be casting my proxy vote for me.
In a discussion on a VI television channel during the run-up to the United Kingdom’s General Election in 1992, I was surprised to hear a prominent VI official dismiss any suggestion that a Virgin Islander living in the UK would be able to vote in it. In response, I wrote a letter to another local newspaper not only refuting that, but encouraging VI students and other belongers to exercise their civic rights and duties while living in the UK — especially to vote in elections. Most of my letter is by now irrelevant (e.g. many more belongers now hold full UK passports, and the mechanics of registration have become simpler, while the political scene in the UK has changed dramatically).
UK general elections are now held every five years, with the UK divided into 650 constituencies, each with one Member of Parliament representing it in the House of Commons. My comments refer to the situation in England, Scotland and Wales unless otherwise stated. The UK Electoral Commission’s website provides several useful links for resolving your unanswered questions.
OT questions
You have until Monday to register to vote in the election, the results of which are far more difficult to predict than any for many years. For example, the Scottish Nationalists lost their campaign for Scottish independence but might win sufficient seats on May 7 to hold the balance of power between the Conservative and Labour parties, but there are also other minor parties which may have to be included in a governing coalition (e.g. the Greens, the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party). Amongst other considerations, which of the candidates might best display an understanding of the VI and other overseas territories?
Registering
In order to register to vote, you must be 16 years old or over (but cannot vote until you are 18 years old), a British citizen, or an Irish, Commonwealth or European Union citizen who is resident in the UK. Holders of full UK passports can register as soon as they have a fixed address (e.g. have rented a room). They have no minimum residential period to complete.
The quickest way to register is to complete a simple form on the UK government website at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. (You will need your National Insurance number, if you have one). Alternatively, you can print off a form and send it to your local Electoral Registration Office by post or ask your local Electoral Registration Office to post a form to you (go to https://www.gov.uk/get-on-electoral-register).
How to vote
Whether you vote at a polling station, by post or by proxy (getting someone else to vote for you), always read the instructions for filling in the ballot paper carefully, even if you have voted before. It lists the name and address of each candidate, their party name and logo (or “independent”), and a short description. Simply put a cross (X) next to the one candidate you wish to vote for, but if you make a mistake you can ask the polling staff for another ballot paper. The candidate with the most votes is elected. You may also be voting in other elections on the same day (e.g. local government elections).
If you want to vote by post or by proxy (as I can), you must be registered under the new system introduced last year. To check if you’re correctly registered, contact the local authority of the address you are registered at online.
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