OFFICIAL: UK and Spain sign the Voting Rights Treaty in Madrid

AFTER what has seemed like a never-ending wait and ending months of frustration, the UK and Spain have signed the Voting Rights Treaty. 

This will not only enable UK citizens legally registered in Spain and on the electoral role to continue to vote in the forthcoming municipal elections at the end of May, it will also allow people to stand as councillors.

The Treaty will also allow Spanish citizens living in the UK similar rights.

Following the 2015 elections, a total of 37 British citizens were elected as councillors – both governing and opposition – across the country, with the majority in Andalucia and Valencia.

Many of those will once again be seeking to serve their local communities, with a number seeking election for the first time.

The treaty was signed in Madrid on Monday morning by Spain’s Secretary for the EU, Marco Aguiriano and the UK’s Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP.

UK citizens that have never been on the electoral role before have until Wednesday, January 30 to register their intention to vote and should take their passport to their local Town Hall.

Those that have previously voted will not have to register again, but the advice is to double check that your name is still on your local list.