European Union citizens have said they have been turned away from polling stations on Thursday, despite the elections being ‘European’.
A new hashtag has appeared on Twitter called #deniedmyvote within hours of the polling booths opening.
MEP Seb Dance said on Twitter, “I dismay at the posts under #deniedmyvote – we cannot let fellow citizens’ rights be taken away by an incompetent government.
“If you’re an EU27 citizen USE YOUR VOTE and if you’re denied it don’t let it rest.”
I dismay at the posts under #deniedmyvote – we cannot let fellow citizens’ rights be taken away by an incompetent government.
If you’re an EU27 citizen USE YOUR VOTE and if you’re denied it don’t let it rest.
— Seb Dance 🌹🇪🇺 (@SebDance) May 23, 2019
Joanna Cherry QC and MP raised this question yesterday in the House of Commons during PMQs.
On Twitter Cherry said, “Worrying reports from across UK of #EU citizens resident here being denied #RightToVote. I raised this at #PMQs yesterday.
“I’ll be out & about at polling stations across #EdinburghSouthWest later so please contact me if you experience problems #EUElections19
Another legal expert Jo Maugham QC of the Good Law Project questioned the democracy of the UK. He said on Twitter, “Really upset by the torrent of reports of EU citizens resident here and UK citizens resident abroad being denied their votes.
“It was so foreseeable and so often foreseen. How can we decently pretend ourselves a democracy?”
In another tweet the QC said, “The @GoodLawProject will ask, and will pay for, urgent legal advice, which we will publish, on what can be done to challenge the outcomes in light of these reports.”
#DeniedMyVote I love how they state on the letter that "You don't need to do anything else" and then you turn up on the day and get denied. pic.twitter.com/1ruJoIIPB6
— Kätlin (@estkatlin) May 23, 2019
Agata Patyna an immigration and human rights barrister said on Twitter, “Turned away from polling station this morning. Told I should vote in my EU member state. Called local council yesterday, they confirmed I could vote.
“Called again today. Apparently council had no time to send out forms to all EU residents. Nothing they can do now #DeniedMyVote”
Labour MP David Lammy was outraged at hearing the news calling it “ugly discrimination” and said on Twitter, ”3 years of being insulted, exploited and asked to apply to stay in their own homes.
“Now reports flooding in that EU citizens are being turned away at polling stations, despite being registered to vote. The two step process is ugly discrimination #DeniedMyVote”
3 years of being insulted, exploited and asked to apply to stay in their own homes.
Now reports flooding in that EU citizens are being turned away at polling stations, despite being registered to vote.
The two step process is ugly discrimination #DeniedMyVote https://t.co/w3tzM9blBo
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) May 23, 2019
British in Europe who are the largest coalition of British citizens in the EU27 actively campaign for citizens rights.
They said on Twitter, “hundreds, if not thousands, of UK citizens in the EU did not receive their papers in time to vote – many are still waiting for them What price is democracy?
“A first class international stamp apparently.”
Mike Gapes MP who was Labour and moved to the newly formed Independent Group questioned this in the Commons.
I see that @MikeGapes has now raised #DeniedMyVote in the House of Commons this morning. pic.twitter.com/QdG1868t8h
— LittleGravitas 🇪🇺 🎗#Masks4All (@LittleGravitas) May 23, 2019
Leave a Comment