Sadiq Khan makes plea to Londoners whose last chance to vote is in May

Sadiq Khan has urged EU citizens living in London to vote for him on May 2 as it will be the last time that they will 'automatically have the right to vote' in local elections in England. According to the Electoral Commission, from May 2024, some EU citizens will not be able to vote, nor stand as a candidate, in local elections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

After the UK left the EU in 2020, the Government said that 'there should not be a continued, automatic right to vote and stand in local elections solely by virtue of being an EU citizen'. Changes to the voting system mean EU citizens will continue to be able to vote while they remain on the register, but they will not be able to re-register once they are removed after May 2024.

However, citizens of EU countries, with whom the UK Government has negotiated agreements to allow its citizens living in the UK to vote, in return for the same right for UK citizens living in that country, will still be able to vote and stand in elections.

READ MORE: 'I'm covering the London Mayor election - here's what could stop Sadiq Khan from winning'

So far these agreements have been made with:

• Spain

• Portugal

• Luxembourg

• Poland

Other EU citizens who were living in the UK before the end of the EU Withdrawal Agreement Implementation Period (up to January 1, 2021) will also still be able to vote and stand in elections. The changes will not affect citizens of the Republic of Ireland, nor citizens of Commonwealth nations.

Mr Khan's team says that EU citizens' voting eligibility will be 'determined by the date they moved to the UK, and the country they are from'. There is one week left to register to vote as electors will choose their mayor and London Assembly Members in less than a month's time.

Voters could be turned away from polling stations

Now, in an open letter to more than one million EU citizens, Mr Khan has vowed that he will continue to 'stand up' for those European citizens who have chosen to make the capital their home. The mayor said: "London has always been a European city. European Londoners are our friends, our neighbours, and our colleagues, and they help make London the greatest city in the world. This election in May is a huge moment.

"As mayor I will always stand up for the cherished European values of openness and tolerance." The mayor has also expressed a fear that 900,000 voters could be turned away from polling stations for not possessing a valid form of photo identification.

Mr Khan added: "I’m also deeply worried about changes to the voting system which may mean European Londoners could lose their right to vote. So I make an appeal to every single Londoner – make sure you’re registered to vote, and make sure you turn up to the polling station on May 2 with valid ID.

"Vast numbers of European Londoners may not have heard about the rule changes, and could be caught out when they arrive at the polling station.”

Read our exclusive sit-down interview with Sadiq Khan ahead of the London mayoral election here. Read our full chat with Susan Hall here.

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