Brit expats on Cyprus urged to arrange proxy votes for snap general election

British expats on Cyprus are now being urged to ensure their voting rights by proxy well before any announcement of a general election.

Given that, in the referendum itself, many expats weren’t able to vote for their preference either because they’d lived outside the UK for more than 15 years or they couldn’t arrange proxy or postal votes, the call to ensure access to proxy votes doesn’t come a day too soon. The UK’s present crisis is unrivalled in its severity, with the wrong result likely to affect Britons living in EU member states even more than those in the home country. Sadly, every attempt made to block the 15-year ruling since the referendum has failed, meaning the proposed snap general election is the only chance expats now have to save their chosen lifestyles from falling apart.

Unless they’re planning on a swift visit to the UK to cast their vote, expats in EU member states have just two options – a postal vote or a proxy vote. During this year’s EU Parliamentary elections, the postal vote system proved to be a shambles, thus denying many thousands of British expats a say in their EU representatives and spurring suspicions of foul play on the part of officials. It’s known that Britons in Cyprus are eager to vote, with most recommending a proxy vote as the only sure way to have their voices heard. A spokesperson from the British Embassy told reporters any person appointed by an overseas voter is legally able to vote in your place, as long as they’re registered to vote themselves.

A form needs to be filled in before the proxy vote can take place, and it’s not necessary for proxy voters to be relatives of expats themselves. Applications must be submitted by expat voters at least six working days before the announced date of the election, with the proxy voter being sent a form telling them where and when to place a vote on behalf of an expat voter living overseas. Proxy voting is, according to the embassy, the safer way to place your expat vote in what would seem to be a do or die effort to avoid a no-deal Brexit and its disastrous effect on Britons living, working or retiring in EU member states.