Overseas Electors Bill

Key Points

• Extends or adjusts the basis on which British citizens abroad qualify to vote in Parliament.
• Involves a money resolution and an amendment to that resolution; the money resolution passed (308–260) while the amendment to it was defeated (259–296).
• Has cleared the 1st and 2nd readings and gone through committee scrutiny in 2018; now at Report Stage in the Commons.
• Demonstrates mixed cross‑party voting, with Lib Dems fully supporting and other parties voting yes and no in varying combinations.
• Accompanied by multiple official documents (Amendment Papers, Bill proceedings, briefing papers and impact assessments).

Progress

Having cleared the committee stage, the bill is at the Report Stage in the Commons. The related money-resolution votes in 2018 show it had begun to win support but also faced opposition.

Voting

In the Money Resolution vote (16 October 2018): 308 Aye, 260 No. In the amendment to the Money Resolution (same date): 259 Aye, 296 No. Parties show mixed voting patterns, with Lib Dems uniformly in favour and other parties split.