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Voting Rights: Republic of Ireland

Question for Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

UIN HL5082, tabled on 25 January 2023

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Irish citizens resident in Great Britain under the Common Travel Area have the right to vote in (1) general elections, (2) local elections, and (3) referendums; and whether UK citizens resident in the Republic of Ireland have the same rights to vote in (4) general elections, (5) local elections, and (6) referendums.

Answered on

8 February 2023

Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland have a long-standing reciprocal arrangement on voting rights between the two countries. Irish citizens resident in the UK can vote in UK Parliamentary and local elections. The franchise for UK-wide referendums is set on a case-by-case in the legislation providing for the referendum. British citizens resident in the Republic of Ireland can vote at Dail and local Elections but not in Presidential elections or referendums held in the Republic unless the British citizen is a also an Irish citizen.