The UK’s recent general election was undoubtedly historically significant. But for me, it was also personally significant, because I was able to cast my first British ballot.
This is despite me having lived in the UK for only a few months, and not being a British citizen. The same circumstances would disqualify me in Australia and most other countries.
Yet in the UK, Commonwealth citizens are given special treatment. Provided you satisfy age and residence requirements (in practice, that means holding a non-visitor visa), you can enrol to be a bona fide elector.
Australia cut off similar Commonwealth reciprocity in 1984.
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