Y o u a n d t h e R A F
Your Right, Your Responsibility
With a General Election Looming Make Sure You Have a Vote
It is a known fact that registration levels for Service personnel and their families are lower than the civilian average and that many Service personnel do not vote.
T
his Autumn the three Families Federations were invited to the House of Commons to meet Michael Wills MP, the Minister of State within the Justice
Department responsible for ensuring that as many eligible UK citizens as possible are registered to vote.
The Federations sought the meeting to highlight the problems encountered by Service personnel and their families when trying to vote, particularly when serving overseas. The Minister was advised that reliance on the current postal system was effectively disenfranchising personnel overseas because the time taken to get ballot papers to and from theatre was too long and missed the tight deadlines imposed.
The Minister was also advised that the default to a proxy vote was not at all popular since many did not wish to nominate a proxy or knew no one in their registered constituency whom they could ask to vote on their behalf. The need to continually re-register (currently every 3 years but increasing to 5) is a disincentive to many and it was felt that many Service personnel and their families, particularly those overseas, are simply giving up their right to vote as the process is overly bureaucratic.
The Federations suggested use of on-line voting, electronic booths in Embassies or Service units overseas, or emulating other countries, such as the Danish, who speed up the postal system by using blank electoral forms that are completed in theatre as soon as the list of candidates is released in the home country. The Minister agreed to look into these options as a matter of urgency.
www.raf-ff.org.uk
The Best Way for this Coming Election
The Electoral Commission, the independent elections watchdog, in partnership with the MoD have launched a joint campaign to encourage Service personnel to make sure they are registered and able to vote in the next General Election. Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission said: “The next General Election could be called at any time between now and June 2010. You put your lives on the line for our country. So please make sure you have a vote on election day.
“If you are serving overseas between now and then, the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to apply for a proxy
vote by asking someone you trust back home, who is also eligible to vote, to vote on your behalf. Choose that person now. That way, you’re prepared for the election- whatever the date.
“The other option is to register to vote by post. But the tight timescale and logistical challenges involved in getting a ballot paper to you and back home again may make this an unrealistic option”.
Anyone reading this who has yet to register to vote can do so via the website: www.
aboutmyvote.co.uk/armedforces where there is a special section for the Armed Forces and their families. The Federation will keep you updated on progress on this key constitutional issue.
Winter 2009 31
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