Let Me Vote is a European Citizens Initiative that aims to solve one of the Democratic Deficiencies in the European Union. This ECI calls for the right to vote of EU Citizens to be expanded from just the right the vote in Local and European Elections to National Elections in the Member State in which they reside.
The ECI was launched by Europeens Sans Frontieres. (Website in French)
This is the one issue that the European Union has not managed to sort out since the introduction of European Citizenship. Its stated objective and goal is:
To strengthen the rights listed in article 20§2 TFEU by granting EU citizens residing in another Member State the right to vote in all political elections in their country of residence, on the same conditions as the nationals of that State.
The goal of the initiative is to develop the political dimension of the European project by reinforcing citizens’ awareness that they share a common destiny. It would have the following effects: – To enhance the concept of European Citizenship; – To facilitate freedom of movement within the EU; In addition, it could contribute to remedying the loss of voting rights presently experienced by a significant number of EU citizens who are long-term residents of other Member States.
This is a great ECI and certainly is highlighting a massive issue within the EU. It certainly highlights the anomaly within the EU where Irish Citizens resident in the United Kingdom have the right to vote in Local, National and European Elections and the right that UK Citizens have in Ireland to vote in Local, National and European Elections. Surely this should be the norm between EU member states and not the exception.
Your voting rights should be allowed to move with you through the European Union just like the rest of your rights. This is especially true for countries such as Ireland where citizens abroad are not allowed to vote. Hopefully this ECI will change this and may encourage states that currently do not allow diaspora voting to look again at the issue.
I for one whole heatedly support the Let Me Vote ECI and urge you to read it and sign it here!
For more details see the following links:
I do plan a number of posts on ECI’s I find and I certainly wont agree with them all!
Related articles
- Maros Sefcovic on Citizens’ Initiatives (venitism.blogspot.com)
- Cypriots more likely to make use of European Citizens’ Initiative (famagusta-gazette.com)
