Austria: 2024 federal election
Austria is holding legislative elections on 29 September 2024. 183 members of the National Council will be elected, with the leader of the political party with the most seats expected to form a coalition government.
This briefing summarises the voting rights for different types of elections in the UK.
Who can vote in UK elections? (386 KB , PDF)
All democratic countries have rules about who has the right to vote, known as the franchise, in their elections. This is usually based on nationality, age and residence.
The right to vote in national and local elections may vary. Most countries restrict voting in national elections to their own citizens, but some allow foreign nationals to vote in local elections.
This briefing explains the franchise and who has the right to register to vote in elections in the UK. It also provides information on some of the registration criteria, such as residence, nationality and legal incapacity to vote.
In recent years the rules on who can vote in which election in the UK have diverged depending which part of the UK someone lives in. The right to vote in UK elections is summarised in the table at the end of this overview.
Across the whole of the UK, to vote in an election for the UK Parliament someone must:
The eligibility of Irish and Commonwealth citizens to vote in UK elections comes from the historic links between the UK and Ireland and between the UK and countries of the former British Empire.
Eligibility to vote in local and devolved elections depends on which part of the UK someone lives.
The franchise for devolved elections in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the respective devolved administrations. The devolved elections in Scotland and Wales include local council elections and elections to the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments. Both have made changes to reduce the voting age and to allow foreign nationals to vote. Elections in Northern Ireland are not devolved.
For local elections in England and Northern Ireland the rules are the same as they are for UK Parliament elections with three main exceptions.
As in England British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens can vote. Members of the House of Lords can vote, and overseas voters cannot. The main differences for Scottish Parliament elections and local elections in Scotland are:
In Wales the franchise has also been expanded for Senedd Cymru and local elections:
Decisions on police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections are reserved to the UK Government. The voting age remains 18 for PCC elections in Wales and only registered British citizens and qualifying Commonwealth and Irish citizens can vote. All convicted prisoners serving a prison term are still prohibited from voting in Senedd Cymru and Welsh local elections.
The voting rights of EU citizens living in the UK depend on where they live.
As already noted any foreign national, including EU citizens, can register to vote in devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.
In England and Northern Ireland, the eligibility is:
Cyprus and Malta are both EU and Commonwealth countries. Citizens of Cyprus and Malta are able to register for full voting rights as Commonwealth citizens as long as they fulfil the other eligibility requirements.
Election | Voting age | Resident british citizen | Overseas British Citizen | Resident Irish citizen | Resident qualifying Common-wealth citizen | Resident citizens of other countries | Convicted prisoners detained in prison |
UK Parliament | 18 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
England | |||||||
Police and crime commissioner | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Elected mayor | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Council and parish | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Scotland | |||||||
Scottish Parliament | 16 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Any legally resident | Sentenced to 12 months or less |
Council and community council | 16 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Any legally resident | Sentenced to 12 months or less |
National park authority | 16 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Any legally resident | Sentenced to 12 months or less |
Wales | |||||||
Senedd Cymru | 16 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Any legally resident | No |
Council and community council | 16 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Any legally resident | No |
Police and crime commissioner | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Northern Ireland | |||||||
Assembly | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Council | 18 | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Eligible EU citizens | No |
Who can vote in UK elections? (386 KB , PDF)
Austria is holding legislative elections on 29 September 2024. 183 members of the National Council will be elected, with the leader of the political party with the most seats expected to form a coalition government.
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