The right to vote is a regular topic of conversation right now among many who have left their country of origin to live in another country. We recently published the results of a poll: Expats and the UK election which s causing a flurry of comments on Social Media websites.
One of the responses said: “Where do we pay our taxes?”
Being able to vote in the country in which you pay your taxes sounds great in principle – but let’s look at it in more detail.
What if they can’t or don’t pay tax
Should an unemployed person not get a vote?
What about prison inmates?
What about a full time stay at home parent?
Someone who can’t work through disability?
These groups of people do not necessarily pay tax because they do not work / or are unable to work. Should they not get a vote? If that were the case then many would have their right to vote blocked which is not what democracy should be about.
Then there’s the ones that should, but don’t
How many big earners in the UK that SHOULD be paying tax there and that DO have a vote, are even registered in the UK for tax purposes? How many businesses and organisations are “Non domiciled” for tax purposes in the UK? Including the Daily Mail’s owner ironically, and a number of former peers that had to surrender their seats in the House of Lords when the rules changed in 2010. The Treasury is missing out on billions each year from tax dodging. Yet those people can still vote.
I personally believe you should have the right to vote where you are “ordinarily resident” regardless of where or whether you pay your taxes. That should be for ALL elections, not just the locals or European – for those of us living in Europe.
That’s my personal view of course – and it isn’t matched in this household, let alone elsewhere. That’s okay, if we all thought the same then the world would be a boring place. I respect the view that people have worked in the UK all their lives so would not wish to lose the right to vote. I respect the view that people still have loved ones in the UK that they will vote to protect. I respect the view that people pay tax on their UK pensions so have a vested interest.
I pay the bulk of my taxes in Spain but that’s by the by. More importantly, I am also “ordinarily resident” here, so I feel quite strongly that I should be able to vote in ALL elections here. I can’t though until I get citizenship… and I can’t do that until I have been here and registered as resident for ten years. Almost there, but not quite.
I also pay tax in the UK but obviously I am not ordinarily resident there. Currently I have the right to vote in the UK for the upcoming election and the next one, according to UK law and the length of time I have been gone. That is the law and a right of any British citizen who has been gone for 15 years or less. It took a lot of soul-searching before my personal and private decision was made whether to exercise my legal right to vote. Whether or not individuals exercise that legal right is a personal choice and none of anyone’s business until such time as the law changes.
What about the money I put into another country’s economy in terms of tax?
That’s a valid question. We have many friends who own second / third properties or holiday homes in different places to their country of ordinary residence. They have put many hundreds of thousands into those economies in terms of property purchase and property tax… not to mention the money they plough into local businesses when they are enjoying their time abroad. Carpenters, electricians, painters, furniture shops, restaurants, bars, excursions, banking, money transfers… … … the list goes on and on. So taking the “tax argument” and popping it on its head – should these people then have the right to vote there too?
One thing is for sure – there is no simple “one size fits all” answer.
A heartfelt reminder for those of us living in Spain – the local elections are almost upon us. Hopefully you will have registered at the Town Hall for your right to vote. Put your tick where it counts.
Elle, along with Alan, is the owner of Spain Buddy and the busy web design business – Spain Web Design by Gandy-Draper. Born a “Norverner”, she then spent most of her life “Dann Saff” before moving to Spain in 2006. Elle’s loves are Alan, the internet, dogs, good food, and dry white wine – although not necessarily in that order.
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Very thoughtful article Elle! For what it’s worth I reckon I should have the right to vote where I live, and also where I am taxed, even if they are different countries. I think the 15 year exclusion should be dispensed with. Since prisoners lose certain rights by reason of their sentences, perhaps they should be denied the right to vote? Along with the right to Sky TV, computer games, internet access….
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One of the responses said: “Where do we pay our taxes?”
Karen Young
May 5, 2015 @ 1:48 pm
Very thoughtful article Elle! For what it’s worth I reckon I should have the right to vote where I live, and also where I am taxed, even if they are different countries. I think the 15 year exclusion should be dispensed with. Since prisoners lose certain rights by reason of their sentences, perhaps they should be denied the right to vote? Along with the right to Sky TV, computer games, internet access….