Right of foreigners to vote

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Suffrage, the right to vote in a particular country, generally derives from citizenship. In most countries, the right to vote is reserved to those who possess the citizenship of the country in question. Some countries, however, have extended suffrage rights to non-citizens. Suffrage rights extended to non-citizens are often restricted or limited in some ways, with the details of the restrictions or limitations varying from one country to another.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Supranational groupings 2.1 European Union (EU) 2.2 Commonwealth of Nations (CN) 3 Individual national cases 3.1 Antigua and Barbuda 3.2 Argentina 3.3 Australia 3.4 Austria 3.5 Barbados 3.6 Belgium 3.7 Belize 3.8 Bolivia 3.9 Brazil 3.10 Bulgaria 3.11 Canada 3.11.1 British Columbia 3.11.2 New Brunswick 3.11.3 Nova Scotia 3.11.4 Ontario 3.11.5 Saskatchewan 3.12 Cape Verde 3.13 Chile 3.14 Colombia 3.15 Cyprus 3.16 Czech Republic 3.17 Denmark 3.18 Dominica 3.19 Estonia 3.20 Finland 3.21 France 3.22 Germany 3.23 Grenada 3.24 Guyana 3.25 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 3.26 Hungary 3.27 Iceland 3.28 Ireland 3.29 Israel 3.30 Italy 3.31 Jamaica 3.32 Japan 3.33 Jersey 3.34 Latvia 3.35 Lithuania 3.36 Luxembourg 3.37 Malawi 3.38 Malta 3.39 Mauritius 3.40 Namibia 3.41 Netherlands 3.42 New Zealand 3.43 Norway 3.44 Portugal 3.45 Saint Kitts and Nevis 3.46 Saint Lucia 3.47 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3.48 Slovenia 3.49 Slovakia 3.50 South Africa 3.51 South Korea 3.52 Spain 3.53 Sweden 3.54 Switzerland 3.55 United Kingdom 3.56 United States 3.57 Uruguay 3.58 Venezuela 4 References

[edit] Overview

In some cases, the United States being one such case, some subnational entities have granted voting rights to non-citizens. Conceptions of subnational citizenship have been reasons to grant this right to those normally excluded from it. Other countries have granted voting rights to non-citizens who hold citizenship of a country which is a fellow member of a supranational organization (e.g. members of the European Union). In a few cases, countries grant voting rights to citizen and nonitizens alike.

In a 2003 paper, David C. Earnest (then a graduate research assistant at at George Washington University) surveyed practice of voting rights for resident aliens (or immigrants), concluding that although the practice is surprisingly widespread, the details varied considerably from country to country.^[1] In another paper, Earnest compared voting rights for resident aliens in 25 democracies, grouping them into five categories as follows:^[2]

• 0: No rights (Australia by grandfathered franchise after 1984, Austria, Belgium, Costa Rica, Denmark before 1977, Finland before 1981, France, Germany except for 1989-90, Greece, Ireland before 1962, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands before 1979, Norway before 1978, Spain before 1985, Sweden before 1976, the United Kingdom before 1949, and the United States before 1968).
• 1: Rights granted only by subnational governments (Canada from 1975 to the present; West Germany in 1989, the Netherlands from 1979 to 1981, Switzerland from 1960 to the present, and the United States from 1968 to the present).
• 2: Local rights, discriminatory (Denmark from 1977 to 1980; Finland from 1981 to 1990; Israel from 1960 to the present; and Norway from 1978 to 1981).
• 3: National rights, discriminatory (Australia from 1960 to 1984, Canada from 1960 to 1974, Ireland from 1985 to the present, New Zealand from 1960 to 1974, Portugal, the United Kingdom).
• 4: Local rights, nondiscriminatory (Denmark after 1980, Finland after 1990, Hungary, Ireland 1963 to 1984, the Netherlands after 1981, Norway after 1981, Spain after 1985, Sweden after 1976).
• 5: National rights, nondiscriminatory (New Zealand after 1975; Uruguay for 15 years-resident, since 1952)

After receiving his Doctorate in 2004, Dr. Earnest published a further paper examining the political incorporation of aliens in three European democracies: Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.^[3]

[edit] Supranational groupings

A number of separate supranational groupings of countries exist, and membership in some of these groupings may involve multinational agreements and treaties in which member countries agree to some degree of reciprocity regarding voting rights. Some individual countries are members of more than one supranational groupings, and some supranational groupings of countries are members of other supranational groupings of countries.

[edit] European Union (EU)

The 1992 Maastricht Treaty imposed reciprocity inside the European Union concerning voting rights in local elections; this already existed for the European elections. In several European states, the public debate on the right of foreigners to vote was therefore renewed, as some foreign residents had the right to vote (European foreign residents) while others, non-Europeans, did not. As a result of this debate, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovenia and Belgium extended the right to vote, in different manners, to all foreign residents (which was already the case in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Netherlands).

The European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the Baltic Sea States Conference^[4] have produced various recommendations in favor of the introduction of the right to vote and of eligibility to all foreign residents in local elections. The 1992 Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level^[5] from the Council of Europe, is opened to signatures and ratifications.

[edit] Commonwealth of Nations (CN)

The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as the Commonwealth and formerly as the British Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of over 50 independent sovereign states, most of which are former possessions of the British Empire. A few Commonwealth countries, apart from the United Kingdom itself, allow Commonwealth citizens (formerly "British subjects") voting and/or eligibility rights at all levels, either with or without specific restrictions not applying to local citizens: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malawi (all foreign residents, not only Commonwealth citizens), Mauritius, Namibia (all foreign residents, not only Commonwealth citizens), New Zealand (all foreign residents, before 1975 only Commonwealth citizens), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

[edit] Individual national cases

[edit] Antigua and Barbuda

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote and are eligible for parliamentary elections, but "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for ineligibility.^[6]

[edit] Argentina

Article 61 of the Constitution of the city of Buenos Aires states that "Suffrage is free, equal, secret, universal, compulsory and not accumulative. The foreign residents enjoy this right, with the correlative obligations, on equal terms with argentinian citizens registered in this district, in the terms established by the law."^[7]

[edit] Australia

(CN member) National voting rights were granted to British Commonwealth citizens from 1960 to 1984.^[2] In 1984, 1947 legislation which had allowed non-citizen voting was repealed, but voters registered before 1984 retained their voting rights.^[8]

[edit] Austria

(EU member) In 2002, non-citizens were granted voting rights in local elections in Vienna, but the decision was overturned by the Constitutional Court in June 2004^[9]

[edit] Barbados

(CN member) As of 1990, British Commonwealth citizens may vote for parliamentary elections with a 3 years residency requirement.^[10]

[edit] Belgium

(EU member) European Union residents in Belgium were given the right to vote and to be candidates for the 1994 European Parliament election, then for the 2000 Municipal elections. They had however first only the right to be elected as municipal councillors, not at the executive level (schepen/alderman or burgomaster/mayor), the alderman level was only opened for them from the 2006 Municipal elections, the mayor level may not be opened to them because it includes a function of administrative police. In conformance with EU regulations, EU residents are submitted to the same residence conditions as Belgian nationals, i.e. residence in the commune at the closure date of the electoral roll (July 31 for the municipal elections).

In 2004, voting rights in municipal elections were extended to non-European Union foreigners living in Belgium, with certain conditions attached.^[3] Non-EU foreigners must have been living in Belgium for at least five years before becoming entitled to vote. Any non-EU foreigner who wants to take advantage of the new legislation must also sign an oath of allegiance to the Belgian constitution, formally agree to respect the country’s laws and sign the European Convention on Human Rights. Also, non-EU foreigners are not allowed to stand as candidates.^[11]

As voting is compulsory in Belgium, and all electors are automatically on the electoral rolls (extracted from a computerized National Register^[12]), foreign residents have to enlist voluntarily on the electoral roll, then only they are submitted to the compulsory vote. At the 2006 Municipal elections, only 20.9% (110,973 out of 529,878) of the potential EU voters enlisted (17.6%, or 87,858 out of 498,315 at the 2000 Municipal elections^[13]), and 15.7% (17,065 out of 108,607) of the potential non-EU voters.^[14]

[edit] Belize

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens who are domiciled or have resided in the country for at least one year immediately before polling day are qualified as electors, but not for eligibility to the House of Representatives, which requires Belize citizenship.^[15]

[edit] Bolivia

In 1994, the constitution was changed to allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. As of 2007, this has not been implemented.^[8]

[edit] Brazil

Article 12.1 of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution states that "The rights inherent to Brazilians (before 1994 Constitutional amendment, "born Brazilians"^[16]) shall be attributed to Portuguese citizens permanently resident in Brazil if Brazilians are afforded reciprocal treatment, except in the events set forth in this Constitution.", article 14 that "Foreigners cannot register as voters", and "The conditions for eligibility, according to the law, are the following: I. Brazilian nationality (...)". A Treaty of friendship, cooperation and consultation between Brazil and Portugal was signed on April 22, 2000 and promulgated in 2001 by Decree nr. 3.927/2001. Practically, the Portuguese citizen regularly residing in Brazil and wishing to enjoy the "Equality Status" (Estatuto de Igualdade) without losing his original citizenship has to apply to the Ministry of Justice. The conditions to enjoy political rights are: to be residing in Brazil for 3 years, to be able to read and write Portuguese and to enjoy political rights in Portugal.^[17]

[edit] Bulgaria

(EU member) In February 2005, the Bulgarian Constitution was modified, an article 42, a third paragraph was added to Article 42, stating "The elections for the European Parliament and the participation of European Union citizens in the elections for local authorities shall be regulated by law".^[18]

[edit] Canada

(CN member) Voting rights at the federal level in Canada are exclusively limited to Canadian citizens.^[19]

[edit] British Columbia

The 1984 Election Amendment Act (Bill 20) put an end to the faculty of inscription on the electoral rolls of British citizens in British Columbia.^[20]

[edit] New Brunswick

Fot the 1995 New Brunswick provincial elections, a person qualified to vote had to be a Canadian citizen or a British subject who was resident in the province prior to January 1, 1979.^[21] For the 1999 elections, the qualification was limited to Canadian citizens.^[22]

[edit] Nova Scotia

For the 2003 and 2006 provincial elections in Nova Scotia, to be eligible to vote, a person had still to be either a Canadian citizen or a British subject.^[23] In November 25, 2001, an amendment to the Elections Act removed being a British subject as a qualification for registration as an elector but provided that this change would not be not effective until the second general election that was to be held after this amendment came into force.^[24]

[edit] Ontario

The 1985 Equality Rights Statute Law Amendment Act put an end to municipal and scholar elections voting rights for British citizens in Ontario. Those who could vote before the Act kept their voting rights up to July 1, 1988, the legal waiting period for the introduction of a request for naturalization.^[25]

[edit] Saskatchewan

British subjects (other than Canadian citizens) are entitled to vote if they were qualified electors at the time of the Saskatchewan provincial general election held on June 23, 1971.^[26]

[edit] Cape Verde

Article 24 of the Cape Verde Constitution^[27] states that

• alinea 3.: "Rights not conferred to foreigners and apatrids may be attributed to citizens of countries with Portuguese as an official language, except for access to functions of sovereignty organs, service in the armed forces or in the diplomatic career."
• alinea 4. "Active and passive electoral capacity can be attributed by law to foreigners and apatrids residents on the national territory for the elections of the members of the organs of the local municipalities."

The website of the governmental Institute of Cape Verde Communities states that such a measure was adopted "to stimulate reciprocity from host countries of Cape Verdian migrants".^[28]

A law nr. 36/V/97 was promulgated on August 25, 1997 regulating the "Statute of Lusophone Citizen", concerning nationals from any country member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (article 2), stating in its article 3 that "The lusophone citizen with residence in Cape Verde is recognized the active and passive electoral capacity for municipal elections, under conditions of the law. The lusophone citizen with residence in Cape Verde has the right to exercise political activity related to his electoral capacity."^[29].

[edit] Chile

The 1980 Chilean Constitution states in its article 14 that "Foreigners residing in Chile for more than five years and who comply with the requirements prescribed in the first paragraph of Article 13, may exercise the right to vote in the cases and in the manner determined by law.". Article 13 states that "Citizens are those Chileans who have reached the age of eighteen years and who have never been sentenced to afflictive punishment."^[30]. A 2005 constitutional reform introduced a second alinea to article 14, by which eligibility rights of naturalized citizens only occur 5 years after being granted a naturalization card.^[31]

[edit] Colombia

In 1991, the constitution was changed to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, but the changes were not immediately implemented.^[8] On July 31, 2006, Colombia approved voting by foreigners for mayors and city council elections. To vote, foreigners must have been residents of Colombia for 5 years and must register with the electoral authorities. Voting is not compulsory and voting aliens have the same voting-related privileges citizens would.^[32]

[edit] Cyprus

(EU member) Article 8 of the 2004 Local Elections Act (Nationals of Other Member States) (Ν.98(Ι)/2004) allows EU residents to vote at local elections. Voters have to register, once registered they are submitted to compulsory voting like Cyprus citizens. EU voters may not stand for election as mayor or chairman of the council and, if elected to the local council, they may not hold the office of deputy mayor or deputy chairman.^[33] Article 9(2) of the 2004 Law on Election of Members to the European Parliament (N.10(I)/2004) allows EU residents to vote and be candidate at the European Parliament elections.^[34]

[edit] Czech Republic

(EU member) In December 2001, voting rights in local elections were approved for "any natural person who has reached the age of 18, is a citizen of a foreign country and has permanent residence registered in the municipality, if an international treaty by which the Czech Republic is bound and which has been promulgated so stipulates."^[35] In November 2002, only EU nationals benefited from such a treaty.^[36] An Act on elections to the European Parliament was adopted in March 2003.

[edit] Denmark

(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1977. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1981. In 1995, the 3 years residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation, and also for Nordic residents.^[37]

[edit] Dominica

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote for parliamentary elections. They are not eligible for direct elections to the House of Assembly, but may be appointed or elected as senators (9 members of the parliament who may either be appointed by the president or elected by the other members of the House of Assembly). "Allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for ineligibility.^[38]

[edit] Estonia

(EU member) Article 156 of the 1992 Estonian Constitution states that "Any person who has reached the age of 18 and resides permanently in the territory of that local government will have the right to vote in accordance with the Constitution and the law.". In 1996, all foreign residents were granted voting, but not eligibility, rights, for municipal elections with a 5 years residence condition.^[37] In March 2002, a new Local Government Elections Act was adopted to conform with European legislation, granting EU residents the same voting and eligibility rights for municipal elections.^[39]

[edit] Finland

(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens without residence condition for municipal elections in 1981. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1991 with a 2 years residence condition. In 1995 (Law 365/95, confirmed by Electoral Law 714/1998), the residence requirement was abolished for EU residents, in conformity with the European legislation.^[37] Section 14, al. 2 of the 2000 Constitution of Finland states that "Every Finnish citizen and every foreigner permanently resident in Finland, having attained eighteen years of age, has the right to vote in municipal elections and municipal referendums, as provided by an Act. Provisions on the right to otherwise participate in municipal government are laid down by an Act."^[40]

[edit] France

(EU member) In France, the Socialist Party has been talking about it since the early 1980s, it was the 80th proposition of the 110 Propositions for France electoral program of 1981, but as it needed a Constitutional change it would have been blocked by the Senate, the alternative would have been a referendum, but as it was generally assumed that a majority of the public opinion was against it, it could have resulted in a defeat of the government. On May 3, 2000, a law proposal was voted by the National Assembly by the Left and 2 centrist Union for French Democracy deputies, but it was blocked by the Senate.

Polls suggest that a narrow majority of the public opinion is now favorable to it and even Nicolas Sarkozy and a few other prominent right-wing politicians like Philippe Séguin (candidate to the mayorship of Paris in 2001) Gilles de Robien and Jean-Louis Borloo let know they supported it as a personal opinion, but that they would respect the overlarge majority negative position of their parties. In January 2006 the left-wing senators tried again tu put the law proposal on the agenda, but the right-wing majority blocked it again.

In the late 1990s-early 2000s some symbolic local referendums on the subject were organized either under the auspices of the Ligue des droits de l'homme or of the municipal authorities, one of them in Saint-Denis, at the initiaive of the Communist Party mayor. The Cergy administrative court ruled in 2006 that the referendums were not legally binding. Other communist or socialist-led municipalities organized such referendums, including Le Blanc-Mesnil (PCF), Bondy (PS), Stains (PCF), La Courneuve (PCF) and Aubervilliers (PCF)^[41][42]

[edit] Germany

(EU member) In February 1989, the state of Schleswig-Holstein approved local voting rights for Danish, Irish, Norse, Dutch, Swedish, and Swiss 5-year residents; the state of Hamburg approved local voting for 8-year residents. Both were struck down as unconstitutional by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany in October 31, 1990 (Ruling 83, 37), considering that the Basic Law, when stating in its article 28 that for districts and municipalities "the people" must be represented by election, only meant by "the people" the German citizens resident on the territory of that administrative unit.^[43]

Between 1995 and 1999, all states were complied to change their legislation in order to comply with the December 19, 1994 94/80/CE EU directive over voting and eligibility rights for EU residents for local and district elections.^[44]

In 1998 the coalition government agreement between the social-democrats and the Greens for the first Schröder cabinet including voting rights for all residents at the municipal and district level,^[45] but the right-wing opposition led a harsh campaign for the February 7, 1999 regional elections in the state of Hesse, mostly centered against both the planned reform of the German nationality law and the perspective of noncitizen voting rights, won these elections and so got a majority in the federal Upper House, where it blocked any initiative on voting rights and forced the government to adopt a less far-reaching reform of the nationality law.^[46]

[edit] Grenada

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote and are eligible for parliamentary elections, but "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for ineligibility.^[47]

[edit] Guyana

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens with domicile and residence in Guyana for a period of at least one year (same condition apply to Guyanese citizens) may vote but the Guyanese citizenship is required for eligibility to the National Assembly.^[48]

[edit] Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Voting is a relatively recent right in Hong Kong, initiated only towards the end of the British colonial period (1842-1997) and enlarged somewhat after the handover to the People’s Republic of China. For this “special administrative region” of China, the right to vote is not tied to citizenship. Chinese citizenship, after all, does not entitle persons to cross the border from the mainland and settle in Hong Kong, which controls its own borders and immigration policies independently from Beijing. Instead, the right to vote arises from a person’s permanent residence in Hong Kong, which is a distinct concept from the person’s citizenship.

Non-citizen eligibility to vote, then, is closely related to Hong Kong’s immigration laws and cannot be separated from the movement for universal suffrage and direct election of the chief executive. While voting by persons holding foreign passports has gone largely unchallenged, there is some indication that increasing appeals to patriotism may make non-citizen voting an issue of debate in the future.^[49]

[edit] Hungary

(EU member) In 1990, permanent residents were allowed to vote in local elections. This was revised in 2004 to limit non-citizen voting to EU nationals.^[8]

[edit] Iceland

Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal elections in 1986. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 2002 with a 5 years residence condition.^[37]

[edit] Ireland

Main article: Elections in Ireland

Citizenship	Local (County, City and Town) Elections	General (National) Elections	European Elections	Presidential Elections	Referenda
Irish
British
Other EU
Non-EU

On April 18, 2008, Conor Lenihan, the Minister for Integration, announced that full voting rights including for the President and Dáil Éireann would be extended to all EU migrants. This has yet to come in to force.^[50]

[edit] Israel

In 1960, non-citizen voting rights in local elections were granted for holders of a permanent resident card ("blue card").^[2] Most permanent residents, a status created by the 1952 Entry into Israel Law, are migrants, but other groups fall into the same category.

Following the 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem, Israel conducted a census on June 26, 1967 in the annexed territory and granted permanent Israeli residency to those present at the time of the census (those not present lost the right to reside in Jerusalem). They can still vote in municipal elections and play a role in the administration of the city. At the end of 2005, 93% of the Arab population of East Jerusalem had permanent residency and 5% had Israeli citizenship.^[51]

In the annexed Golan Heights, fewer than 10% of the Druze are Israeli citizens, the remainder hold Syrian citizenship and have the status of permanent residents.

In 2003 the Black Hebrews were granted permanent residency status by the Israeli government.^[52]

[edit] Italy

(EU member) In 2004, an Associated Press story reported that Immigrants living in Rome had voted to elect city and district representatives from their own ranks in the first such election there.^[53]

[edit] Jamaica

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote and are eligible for parliamentary elections, with a condition of residency in the country during 12 months prior to the compilation of the register of electors (only for British Commonwealth citizens), but "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for ineligibility.^[54]

[edit] Japan

In 2000, legislation to supersede a 1995 supreme court ruling against non-citizen voting rights was considered , but did not pass.^[8]

[edit] Jersey

The right to vote in Jersey is determined by residency, not citizenship, citizens of any state may vote in Jersey elections provided they fulfill the other requirements for electoral registration. A person is entitled to have his or her name included on the electoral register for an electoral district if the person has been ordinarily resident in Jersey for a period of at least 2 years, or ordinarily resident in Jersey for a period of at least 6 months, as well as having been ordinarily resident in Jersey at any time for an additional period of, or for additional periods that total, at least 5 years.^[55]

[edit] Latvia

(EU member)

[edit] Lithuania

(EU member) In 2002, EU nationals were granted local voting rights.^[8] In order to achieve this, an amendment to the constitution was adopted in June 2002 and an amendment of the Law on elections to municipal councils was adopted in September 2002. A Law on elections to the European Parliament was adopted by the parliament in November 2003.^[39]

[edit] Luxembourg

(EU member) In 2003: local voting were granted with no nationality restrictions.^[8]

[edit] Malawi

(CN member) Non-citizens who have been ordinarily resident in Malawi for seven years may vote for parliamentary elections, but only Malawi citizens are eligible.^[56]

[edit] Malta

(EU member) Since 1993, United Kingdom residents in Malta enjoy the same voting and eligibility rights as Maltese citizens at the local and regional council elections.^[37] A Bill to make provision for participation of EU citizens to local elections and a Bill to make provision for holding of elections to the European Parliament were adopted in November 2003.^[39]

[edit] Mauritius

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote and are eligible for parliamentary elections, with a condition of residence in Mauritius for not less than two years or domiciled in the country on a prescribed date (also compulsory for Mauritius citizens), but "allegiance to a State outside the Commonwealth" is a criterion for ineligibility and "ability to speak and read English with a degree of proficiency sufficient to allow for taking an active part in Assembly proceedings" is a condition of eligibility.^[57]

[edit] Namibia

(CN member) Voting and eligibility requirements include citizenship of Namibia (by birth) or child of at least one parent born in Namibia or residence in the country for at least 4 years prior to the date of registration as elector.^[58]

[edit] Netherlands

(EU member) In 1979 non-citizens were allowed to vote in local elections in Rotterdam. This was expanded nationwide in 1985. (though necessary reforms meant aliens did not vote in local elections until 1986).^[2][3][8]

[edit] New Zealand

(CN member) National voting rights were granted in 1853 to all British subjects who met the other qualifications (eg property), to some non-citizens from 1960 to 1974, and to all permanent residents from 1975 onwards, see History of voting in New Zealand. ^[2][8]

One cannot, however, gain election to parliament unless one holds New Zealand citizenship. One party-list candidate in the 2002 election, Kelly Chal, could not assume her position as a member of parliament because she did not meet that criterion.

[edit] Norway

Voting and eligibility rights were granted to Nordic Passport Union country citizens with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1978. These rights were extended to all foreign residents in 1983. The voters enrolment is automatic. As a consequence of the 1983 extension, a 1990 bilateral treaty between Norway and Spain granted voting rights in Spain for Norwegian citizens.^[37]

[edit] Portugal

In 1971, Brazilian residents were granted voting and eligibility rights in Portugal for municipal elections with a 2 years residency requirement and 4 years for eligibility. In 1982, this provision was extended to Cape Verde residents in the frame of reciprocity between Community of Portuguese Language Countries. It was again extended in 1997, under a general rule of reciprocity but with a 4 years residency requirement, to Peruvian and Uruguayan residents with eligibility (after 5 years of residency) and to residents from Argentina, Chile, Estonia, Israel, Norway and Venezuela without eligibility.^[37]

However, in 2005^[59] this list of countries was reduced to

• voting rights: the EU countries (now including Estonia), Brazil, Cape Verde, Norway, Uruguay, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina, plus Iceland, thus minus Israel and Peru
• eligibility: the EU countries, Brazil and Cape Verde, thus minus Peru and Uruguay

Some Brazilian residents "with special status" (cidadãos brasileiros com estatuto especial de igualdade de direitos políticos) enjoy voting rights, but not eligibility rights, even for parliamentary and regional elections.^[60]

There is a political debate going on as to whether voting rights should be extended to all noncitizen residents, as the reciprocity clause excludes 50% of noncitizen residents. In May 2007, the High Commissioner of Migrations and Ethnic Minorities publicly advocated the abolition of the reciprocity clause and the extension of voting rights for foreign residents to all elections, including parliamentary and presidential elections.^[61]

[edit] Saint Kitts and Nevis

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote, but are not eligible, for parliamentary elections, if born in the country before independence; "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for voting rights disqualification.^[62]

[edit] Saint Lucia

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens may vote, but are only those born in Saint Lucia are eligible, for parliamentary elections, if born in the country before independence; "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for ineligibility.^[63]

[edit] Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

(CN member) British Commonwealth citizens able to speak and read the English language may vote and are eligible for parliamentary elections, if born in the country before independence; "allegiance to a foreign State" is a criterion for voting rights disqualification.^[64]

[edit] Slovenia

(EU member) On May 29, 2002, the Slovenian Parliament passed amendments to the Law on Local Elections which gave voting rights in local elections to all foreigners with a permanent residence in Slovenia. In addition to electing local council representatives and mayors, foreigners with a permanent residence are also enabled to run for the position of local councillor.^[65] The voting rights of foreigners are based on Article 43 of the Constitution of Slovenia which states that a law may be used to determine the cases and conditions in which foreigners may vote.

The persons who are entitled to vote and to be elected as members of the National Council (upper house of the Slovenian Parliament) as a representative of employers, employees, farmers, small businesses and independent professionals, and non-profit making activities (functional interests) are those who perform a corresponding activity or who are employed. National Council members belonging to these interest groups may be elected by foreigners under the same conditions as the citizens of Slovenia, i.e. that they are performing a corresponding activity or are employed in Slovenia. However, they may not be elected as National Council members. People with permanent residence in a constituency are entitled to vote and to be elected as members of the National Council, representing local interests.^[66][67]

[edit] Slovakia

(EU member) In 2002, local voting rights were granted for 3-year residents.^[8]

[edit] South Africa

(CN member) Article 6 of the 1993 South African Constitution states that "Every person who is- (a)(i) a South African citizen; or (ii) not such a citizen but who in terms of an Act of Parliament has been accorded the right to exercise the franchise; (b) of or over the age of 18 years; and (c) not subject to any disqualifications as may be prescribed by law, shall be entitled to vote in elections of the National Assembly, a provincial legislature or a local government and in referenda or plebiscites contemplated in this Constitution, in accordance with and subject to the laws regulating such elections, referenda and plebiscites".^[68]

[edit] South Korea

Revisions to voting laws in 2005 allow foreign nationals aged 19 years and older who have lived in South Korea for more than three years after obtaining permanent resident visas to vote in local elections. 6,746 foreign residents (out of more than 1 million) were eligible to vote in May 31, 2006 local elections.^[69]

[edit] Spain

(EU member) Municipal voting rights are granted to citizens of countries which reciprocate by granting voting rights to Spanish citizens when reciprocity is enshrined in a bilateral treaty ratified by Spain, i.e. since 1997 the EU member states and Norway, but already since 1989-1990 Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway. Bilateral treaties with Argentina (1988), Chile (1990) and Uruguay (1992) have never been enacted as voting rights are not enshrined in a specific law in Chile, and for the two other countries the instruments of ratification have never been exchanged,^[70] there are also similar "friendship treaties" with Colombia and Venezuela.^[71][72] There is an ongoing debate in Spain about either ratifying existing bilateral treaties or changing the constitution in order to grant all residents voting rights without reciprocity, but some Catalan parties are opposed to it.^[73][74]

[edit] Sweden

(EU member) Voting and eligibility rights were granted to all foreign residents with a 3 years residence condition for municipal and county elections in 1975. The 3 years reside condition was suppressed in 1997 for residents from EU (in conformity with the European legislation) and the Nordic Passport Union. The voters enrolment is automatic.^[37]

[edit] Switzerland

Some voting rights have been granted to non-citizens by subnational governments, the first being Neuchâtel in 1849, then Jura in 1978 and several others afterwards.

Because Switzerland is a federal state with three different levels – the Confederation, the 26 cantons and their local communes – non-citizen voting rights vary greatly depending on the individual entity. Foreigners may not cast ballots on the national level, but they may be entitled to vote and, in some cases, to run for office on the cantonal or communal level. Five cantons have already recognized the right of foreigners to vote (Neuchâtel, Jura, Vaud in 2003, Fribourg in 2004, Genève in 2005), plus three, Appenzell Ausserrhoden (1995), Graubünden (2003) and Basel-Stadt (2005) which accords to each municipality the authority to decide on the subject. Some referendums unsuccessfully took place in other cantons^[75][2][76]

[edit] United Kingdom

(CN and EU member) Since 1949, the United Kingdom, citizens of the Commonwealth countries and of the Republic of Ireland have had full voting rights at all levels and can be candidates, as they could before 1949 as British subjects; they are not regarded in law as aliens.^[2][8]

For local, supralocal (Greater London Authority) and regional (Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly) elections, EU citizens, enjoy the same rights as Commonwealth citizens.^[77]

Under Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, local electors in Northern Ireland were either Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Republic of Ireland, the Representation of the People Act 2000 replaced that section by "a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union".^[78]

The Representation of the People Act 2000 also introduced a new system of electoral registration, with 2 electoral registers, one for parliamentary elections, one for local elections:^[79]

• "A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a parliamentary election in any constituency if on the date of the poll he (...)(c) is either a Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland"; "A person is entitled to be registered in the register of parliamentary electors for any constituency or part of a constituency if on the relevant date he (...) (c) is either a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland"
• "A person is entitled to vote as an elector at a local government election in any electoral area if on the date of the poll he (...)(c) is a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union"; "A person is entitled to be registered in the register of local government electors for any electoral area if on the relevant date he (...) (c) is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the Union"
• "In this section “qualifying Commonwealth citizen” means a Commonwealth citizen who either"
  • (a) is not a person who requires leave under the [1971 c. 77.] Immigration Act 1971 to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
  • (b) is such a person but for the time being has (or is, by virtue of any enactment, to be treated as having) any description of such leave"

[edit] United States

Main article: Right of foreigners to vote in the United States

More than 20 states or territories, including colonies before the Declaration of Independence, admitted foreigners' right to vote for all elections. Some voting rights at a local level have been granted to non-citizens by State governments from 1968 onwards.

[edit] Uruguay

Since 1952, 15-year residents have had national voting rights.^[2][8]

[edit] Venezuela

In Venezuela, the right to vote in municipal, parish (county), and state elections extends to foreigners over the age of eighteen who have ten years’ residency or more in the country. The provision for non-citizen voting appears in Article 64 of the Venezuelan Constitution of 1999, and has its constitutional roots in a 1983 Amendment to the previous Constitution of 1961.^[80]

[edit] References