No Vote No Voice
The Greater London Authority (GLA) and Shout Out UK have launched the #NoVoteNoVoice campaign to inform Londoners about the voting rights changes brought by the Elections Act.
Voters will need to show Photo ID at the polling station and the voting rights of EU citizens will also be affected by the Act.
the3million is supporting the campaign by informing EU Londoners about how they will be affected by the Elections Act and, more importantly, how they can continue making their voices heard. Whilst this campaign is focused in London, everyone can participate and learn from it.
The key changes brought by the Act are:
Photo ID
Voters will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections. This new requirement would apply at:
- general elections in Great Britain
- local elections in England
- Police and Crime Commissioner elections in England and Wales.
Find more information at the GLA's Democracy Hub
Acceptable IDs include:
EU Voters
At the moment, all EU citizens can vote in local elections across the UK. In Scotland and Wales, EU citizens, as well as all residents, can also vote in devolved national elections.
The Elections Act will bring changes to EU voters in England and Northern Ireland. The voter eligibility of EU citizens in Scotland and Wales will not be affected.
EU citizens who arrived in the UK before the 31st of December 2020 will automatically be able to continue voting in local elections in England and Northern Ireland. EU citizens who arrived in the UK from 2021 onwards will only be able to vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland if their country of origin has secured a bilateral voting rights agreement with the UK. At the moment, only Poland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain have secured these agreements.
These legal changes have not yet been implemented in practice. It is expected that all EU citizens will continue being able to vote in local elections until May 2024 but please keep an eye for any changes.
So continue registering to vote!
Find more information about the changes brought by the Elections Act on the Electoral Commission’s website.
Get involved
Want to learn more? Join one of our community events for EU Londoners:
Portuguese Community Event
🗓️ 23rd January 2023, 6 pm
Speakers:
- Dr. Luís Leandro da Silva, Consul General
- Elmedina Baptista Mendes, Black Europeans
- Maria Joao Melo Nogueira, Operations, Partnerships and Client Support Director, Respeito
- Diogo Martins, Portuguese Association of Researchers and Students in the UK (PARSUK)
Register
Latin American Community Event
🗓️ 9th February 2023, 6 pm
Speakers:
- Carlos, Director, Latin American House
- Rodrigo Correa, Brazilian Cultural Centre
- Marcela Benedetti, Refuge
- Mauricio, IRMO
Register
Romanian Community Event
🗓️ 10th February 2023, 6:30pm
Speakers:
- Robert Marin, Consulate General of Romanian
- Elisabeth Pop, GLA
- Cristina Brinceanu, EU Citizens’ Rights Programme, EU Delegation
Register
Armenian Community Event
🗓️ 12th February 2023. 2pm
Speakers:
- Lara Parizotto, the3million
- Matteo Bergamini, Shout Out UK
- Misak Ohanian, Centre for Armenian Information & Advice
Register
Italian Community Event
🗓️ 16th February 2023, 6:30pm
Speakers:
- Elena Remigi, In Limbo
- Dimitri Scarlato, Comites Londra
- Angelo Boccato, Journalist and Black Europeans
Register
Bulgarian Community Event
🗓️ 2nd March 2023, 6:30pm
Speakers:
- Toni Petkova, Settled
- Lora Tabakova, Works Rights Centre
- Nishan Dzhingozyan, Bulgarian activist
Register
Polish Community Event
🗓️ 18th March 2023, 6:30pm
Speakers:
Coming soon!
Register
European Community Event
🗓️ 21st March 2023, 6:30pm
Speakers:
- Typhaine Morillon, Public Relations Officer, EU Delegation
- Elisabeth Pop, GLA
- Elmedina Baptista Mendes, Black Europeans
Register
