You can still vote in the European Elections in the Netherlands if you’re British and you’ve left the EU

If you’re British and want to vote in the European Elections next month, then you’re in luck. If the UK leaves before the elections on the 23rd of May, you will still be able to vote. 

Now you’re probably thinking, but how? Well, if you request to vote for a Dutch candidate and vote here in the Netherlands, then you’ll be able to vote. If you request to vote in the UK and then the UK leaves the EU, then you won’t be able to vote as you candidate won’t be running any more. Therefore, if you return this form by the 9th of April, then you can continue voting.

De uittreding van het Verenigd Koninkrijk uit de Europese Unie wordt uitgesteld tot in elk geval 12 april 2019.Hierdoor mogen Britse burgers die in Nederland wonen stemmen voor de Europees Parlementsverkiezing.Zij moeten zich uiterlijk 9 april registreren. https://t.co/hFJtqvKSaE pic.twitter.com/serE2QlN7m

— Kiesraad (@Kiesraad) April 4, 2019

The Election Act means that applications are valid on the basis on when they were submitted. So, if you’ve requested to vote and you’re currently in the EU, then if you’ve left by the time voting comes around then that won’t have any effect on it. Brexit is no exception in this case – so start prepping now!

And I've just registered to vote for the European Parliament elections. In the Netherlands.

— Derick Rethans (@derickr) February 12, 2019

Brexit: What now?

The British parliament is still divided on what it wants, leaving a no-deal Brexit more and more of a possibility. The UK was meant to go out of the EU on the 29th of March, but it was extended until the 12th of April. However, not much has changed.

The British Prime Minister, Theresa May really wants her Brexit deal to pass through parliament, even though it’s been rejected many times now. Voting on Brexit options in parliament left no clear majority and it feels like we’re all just going round and round in circles. Yet again, time is running out. The EU has already said that another extension will only be possible if we have a clear reason to extend it (like holding a new referendum, deciding on a new deal or holding a general election). What comes next, no one knows.

Any thoughts? Will you be voting? Let us know in the comments!