Overview

This bill grants EU citizens residing in the UK the right to vote in parliamentary elections and stand for election to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It amends existing legislation to include EU citizens as eligible voters and candidates.

Description

The European Union Citizens (Electoral Rights) Bill makes two key changes to UK electoral law:

• Voting Rights: It amends the Representation of the People Act 1983 to allow EU citizens resident in the UK to vote in parliamentary elections. This extends existing rights afforded to Irish citizens.
• Candidacy Rights: It grants EU citizens resident in the UK the same right as UK citizens to stand for election to the House of Commons and be appointed to the House of Lords. The definition of "relevant citizen of the Union" and "resident in the United Kingdom" will be taken from the Representation of the People Act 1983.

The Electoral Commission is mandated to inform affected individuals of their new rights.

The bill applies to the whole of the UK and comes into force immediately upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill is unlikely to have a significant direct impact on government spending. The costs will mainly relate to the Electoral Commission's information campaign and any adjustments needed to electoral registration processes. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The main groups affected are:

• EU citizens resident in the UK: They gain the right to vote in parliamentary elections and stand for election to Parliament.
• The Electoral Commission: They are tasked with informing EU citizens of their new rights.
• Political Parties: They may need to adapt their campaigning strategies to include EU citizens as voters and potential candidates.
• Parliament: The composition of both Houses of Parliament could change due to potential candidates and members from the EU.

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