Cambridgeshire County Council passes motion supporting local voting rights for non-British citizens

Cambridgeshire councillors are calling for changes to voting laws in England to allow foreign nationals the right to vote in local elections.

Cambridgeshire County Council has passed a motion calling for the extension of local election voting rights to all qualifying foreign nationals at its full council meeting yesterday (Tuesday 15).

The motion, which was put forward by Councillor Alex Bulat, is in support of non-EU and non-Commonwealth citizens, who do not have a direct democratic say in electing local representatives in the same way that EU and Commonwealth citizens do.

It asks council chief executive Stephen Moir to write to the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office to ask for the Elections Bill to be amended to extend local election voting rights in England and Northern Ireland to all qualifying foreign nationals, in line with voting rights in Scotland and Wales.

In passing the motion, the council has also committed to working collaboratively with district councils in Cambridgeshire to develop a communications strategy focusing on voter eligibility, including accessible information about changes in eligibility for EU citizens and the range of voter ID options that can be used.

This strategy will also focus on encouraging all eligible voters to make sure they are registered to vote, disseminating information through county council and partner channels.

Councillor Bulat said: “Passing this motion illustrates the council’s commitment to ensuring that one day all residents can have their say on the election of councillors who are responsible for making decisions which affect them all - such as setting council tax rates. If we are listened to, it would improve local democracy, and trust in local politics through greater involvement and engagement.”