§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to allow families of Scottish soldiers stationed outwith Scotland to vote in Scottish elections; and if he will make a statement. [133653]
§ Mr. CaplinIt is the individual responsibility of each member of the Armed Forces and their family to register to vote annually. Scottish service personnel outwith Scotland, and their spouses, can choose to register as service voters by means of a service declaration, but they can then only vote by proxy. Those, including eligible children, who choose to register on their local electoral register will be able to vote either by post or proxy if they are overseas or away from Scotland during any election, provided they have registered to vote in Scotland. Every effort is made by ships, units, and stations to give reasonable assistance to personnel overseas to register or vote in line with their individual electoral registration choice.
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