§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the Commonwealth countries in which locally resident United Kingdom citizens possessing no other citizenship are entitled to voting rights equivalent to those possessed by Commonwealth citizens in the United Kingdom, showing the terms on which voting rights are granted where appropriate.
§ Mr. Luard,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 112], gave the following information:
Locally resident United Kingdom citizens possessing no other citizenship are entitled to voting rights similar to those possessed by Commonwealth citizens in the United Kingdom in Australia, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mauritius, New Zealand, Sierra Leone and Trinidad and Tobago. In Canada they are eligible to vote in local elections in some Provinces but are not allowed to vote in federal elections. The terms on which voting rights are granted are summarised below.
Australia—United Kingdom citizens in Australia over the age of 18 are entitled, and required by law, to register and vote at Australian Federal and State elections after six months' continuous residence at any time in Australia and when they have lived in an electoral subdivision for at least one month. Under electoral laws every person who is a British subject and meets the residence qualifications is required to vote at elections except holders of temporary entry permits, prohibited immigrants, persons of unsound mind, or attainted of treason. 517W or persons who have been convicted and are under sentence for an offence punishable by imprisonment of one year or longer.
Barbados.—All Commonwealth citizens in Barbados over the age of 18 qualify to be registered as electors after at least three years' residence in Barbados immediately prior to registration and three months' residence in the constituency concerned, with the exception of anyone under sentence of death imposed by a court in any part of the Commonwealth or under sentence of imprisonment exceeding 12 months imposed by such a court.
Canada.—Since June 1975 only Canadian citizens are eligible to vote in Federal elections. Prior to that date all British subjects who were otherwise qualified were enfranchised. United Kingdom citizens holding no other citizenship are eligible to vote in local election in both Federal Territories and the provincial elections in all Provinces except Quebec and Prince Edward Island, subject only to residence qualifications ranging from six to 12 months and age qualifications ranging from 18 to 19 years. The electoral law in Saskatchewan is under review and United Kingdom citizens are expected to become disenfranchised before the next provincial election.
Grenada.—All Commonwealth citizens over 18 years of age with at least 12 months' residence in Grenada immediately prior to the date of registration, or who are domiciled in Grenada and resident there at that date may vote.
Guyana.—All Commonwealth citizens over the age of 21 who are domiciled in Guyana and have been resident there for one year immediately preceding the qualifying date may be registered as electors except those under sentence of death imposed by a court or those sentenced to a term of imprisonment exceeding six months, whether or not this has been suspended, those certified as insane or otherwise judged to be of unsound mind, or those convicted during the preceding five years of an election offence.
Jamaica.—All Commonwealth citizens whether possessing any dual citizenship or not who have resided in Jamaica for one year on the date the register is compiled are entitled without further 518W conditions to vote in Parliamentary and local government elections.
Mauritius.—All Commonwealth citizens over 18 years of age who have resided in Mauritius for not less than two years and are on the electoral roll on the date prescribed by Parliament are entitled to vote except those under court sentence of death or imprisonment of more than 12 months, those of unsound mind and those disqualified for offences connected with elections.
New Zealand.—Any adult British subject—i.e., 18 years of age or over—ordinarily resident in New Zealand qualifies for registration as an elector—which is obligatory—provided he or she has at some period resided continuously in New Zealand for not less than one year.
Sierra Leone.—All British subjects and British protected persons ordinarily resident in Sierra Leone who have attained the age of 21 years are entitled to be registered as electors with the exception of those of unsound mind, those serving prison sentences and those disqualified.
Trinidad and Tobago.—All Commonwealth citizens over the age of 18 may vote after one year's continuous residence in Trinidad and Tobago and two months' continuous residence in the registration district in which they will vote.