UK expats can now vote in UK elections

[rick]

The recent announcement that UK expats can now vote in UK elections for life did come as a bit of a surprise, (previously could only vote for 15 years) but why now?

Well, you have to vote in the constituency you last voted in, and of course postal votes are pretty useless as the papers take too long to arrive, so the only real option is a proxy vote. Apparently Tory canvassing staff are looking for voters who register as living outside the UK, and messaging them suggesting that they allocate their proxy vote to a local tory party representative, who will vote for them.

Not sure this was the original purpose of a proxy vote. In the future, maybe these representatives will be your proxy even if you live in the UK, saving you having to queue up at a polling station. Just let the politicians vote for you.....