In the recent UK General Election, tens of thousands of overseas voters faced disenfranchisement due to delays in receiving their postal ballots. A survey by New Europeans UK, Unlock Democracy, and the British Overseas Voters Forum revealed that less than half (46%) of those surveyed managed to return their ballots on time. The issue was prevalent even in countries with efficient postal systems such as France, where only 55% of the respondents received their ballots in time. 191,338 overseas voters were registered for the 2024 general election.
The findings of the survey presented to the UK Parliament were disheartening. Many Britons abroad reported receiving their postal ballots well after the election had concluded, rendering their votes useless. The inefficiency was particularly egregious in countries like Australia, where only 6% of voters eligible to vote from abroad managed to get their vote counted. Some overseas voters resorted to traveling to the UK or using expensive courier services to ensure their votes were counted.
Efforts to modernize the voting process for overseas Britons have been discussed. Recommendations include extending the election period and allowing citizens to vote at UK Embassies or High Commissions. However, these measures might only bring minimal improvements. Online voting stands out as the most viable solution to this recurring problem.
UK lawmakers would do well to study the successful implementation of online voting in Estonia. Since 2005, Estonian voters have been able to cast their ballots online from anywhere in the world. The system has proved to be efficient, secure, and highly inclusive, drastically increasing voter participation among citizens living abroad.
Estonia's success serves as a valuable example and highlights the need for the UK to modernize its voting systems to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their location, can effectively exercise their right to vote. The technology required for secure online voting is available and has been successfully implemented. There is no valid excuse for the UK not to adopt similar measures to prevent the disenfranchisement of its overseas citizens.
The UK government must urgently address the inefficiencies in the current postal voting system and consider the introduction of secure electronic voting. By doing so, they can ensure that every citizen's vote counts, regardless of where they are in the world.
