Councillor campaigns for serving forces to be able to vote

9.32.30am GMT Wed 4th Nov 2009

Councillor Howard Middleton has joined the campaign to enable members of the armed forces serving overseas, including in Afghanistan, to vote if there is a snap General Election. Writing to the Bradford Telegraph and Argus he said,

" I would like to bring to readers attention the campaign of Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Lib Dem) to ensure that Armed Forces personnel serving overseas can vote in the 2010 General Election. Questions are being asked in the House of Lords to ensure problems that happened in the 2005 General Election do not happen again. The Prime Minister can call a General Election at any time before June 2010. According to the British Armed forces Federation (BAFF) more than a third of armed forces personnel were not registered to vote. If a snap election were called there might not be time to get registered.

Provision also needs to be in place for postal voting and campaigning information to allow those on active service in Afghanistan to participate in the General Election. Logistics problems might exist, but in the 1945 General Election held after VE Day servicemen awaiting demobilisation could vote. Indeed many of those serving in WW2 against Japan were still engaged in active combat operations while the 1945 General Election was going on!

As Lord Roberts said ' It is scandalous that the Government expects our soldiers and servicemen to put their lives on the line to protect democracy overseas, with no guarantee they will be able to vote in elections at home."