Petition · past parliament

A residency qualification of 5 years to sufficient for full UK voting rights.

Closed 176 signatures

What the petition asks

My Swedish wife has been here for 36 years and is barred from voting in GEs and referenda. This is an affront to any acceptable standard of democracy. She works and pays taxes here, and has had a National Insurance Number for many years. Sign if you can see that this is deeply undemocratic.
It is simple. There should be no taxation without representation, and people who have shown their commitment to the UK for 5 years or more are, in my view, entitled to have a say in how the country is governed. Anything else is clearly unfair, undemocratic, and unacceptable.

Timeline

23 Nov 2018 Petition opened for signatures
23 May 2019 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 176
Status Closed
Opened 23 Nov 2018
Closed 23 May 2019

Follow this petition

Sign in to get an email when the government responds, a debate is scheduled or held, or the petition closes.

Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.