Post by Editor on Aug 28, 2013 17:10:53 GMT
One million Commonwealth migrants can vote in the UK despite not having British citizenship
New arrivals from the Commonwealth automatically acquire voting rights
But the countries they come from do not have reciprocal arrangements
A close election could be significantly influenced by foreign voters
By JACK DOYLE
More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election - despite not being British citizens.
New arrivals from Commonwealth countries - including Australia, Bangladesh, India, stan and Nigeria - automatically acquire voting rights on arrival in the UK even if they are only staying for a short time.
Research by the MigrationWatch campaign group estimates that by the time of the 2015 poll, more than one million Commonwealth citizens will be allowed to vote despite not having a British passport.
Political influence: More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election despite not being British citizens, according to research by the think tank Migrationwatch
Political influence: More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election despite not being British citizens, according to research by the think tank Migrationwatch
Even a student on a six month visa has exactly the same voting rights as long-term residents, as long as they have an address, the research shows.
By contrast, the countries where they come from do not offer the same rights to Britons living there.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403556/One-million-Commonwealth-migrants-vote-UK-despite-having-British-citizenship.html#ixzz2dHi61nwu
Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
New arrivals from the Commonwealth automatically acquire voting rights
But the countries they come from do not have reciprocal arrangements
A close election could be significantly influenced by foreign voters
By JACK DOYLE
More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election - despite not being British citizens.
New arrivals from Commonwealth countries - including Australia, Bangladesh, India, stan and Nigeria - automatically acquire voting rights on arrival in the UK even if they are only staying for a short time.
Research by the MigrationWatch campaign group estimates that by the time of the 2015 poll, more than one million Commonwealth citizens will be allowed to vote despite not having a British passport.
Political influence: More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election despite not being British citizens, according to research by the think tank Migrationwatch
Political influence: More than one million immigrants will have the right to vote in the General Election despite not being British citizens, according to research by the think tank Migrationwatch
Even a student on a six month visa has exactly the same voting rights as long-term residents, as long as they have an address, the research shows.
By contrast, the countries where they come from do not offer the same rights to Britons living there.
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403556/One-million-Commonwealth-migrants-vote-UK-despite-having-British-citizenship.html#ixzz2dHi61nwu
Follow us: @mailonline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
