Overview

This bill aims to grant European Union (EU) citizens residing in the UK the right to vote in parliamentary elections and to stand for election to both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It amends existing legislation to include EU citizens alongside UK and Irish citizens.

Description

The European Union Citizens (Electoral Rights) Bill amends the Representation of the People Act 1983. Specifically:

• Voting Rights: It extends voting rights in UK parliamentary elections to EU citizens who are resident in the UK. This is achieved by amending sections 1(1)(c) and 4(1)(c) of the 1983 Act to include "a relevant citizen of the Union."
• Eligibility for Parliament: It grants EU citizens residing in the UK the same right as UK citizens to stand for election to the House of Commons and to be appointed to the House of Lords. The definition of "relevant citizen of the Union" and "resident in the United Kingdom" are taken from the existing Representation of the People Act 1983.
• Information Duty: The Electoral Commission is mandated to inform those affected by the bill of their new rights.
• Extent and Commencement: The Act applies to the whole of the UK and comes into force immediately upon passing.

Government Spending

The bill does not include specific figures for government spending. The primary cost would likely be associated with the Electoral Commission's duty to inform EU citizens of their new rights and potential administrative changes to electoral registration processes. The exact cost is not specified within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• EU Citizens residing in the UK: This group gains the right to vote in UK parliamentary elections and stand for election to Parliament.
• The Electoral Commission: This body has the added responsibility of informing affected individuals about their new rights.
• Political Parties: Political parties may see changes in their voter base and candidate pool.
• Parliament: The composition of Parliament could potentially be altered with the addition of EU citizen Members of Parliament.

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