Representation of the People Act 1989

Representation of the People Act 1989
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to amend the law relating to the entitlement of British citizens resident outside the United Kingdom to vote at parliamentary elections and elections to the European Parliament and to increase the maximum amount of candidates’ election expenses at parliamentary by-elections.
Citation1989 c. 28
Dates
Royal assent27 July 1989
Text of the Representation of the People Act 1989 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Representation of the People Act 1989 (c. 28) is an act by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Provisions

The act extended the time that a British citizen could have lived abroad and still vote from 5 years to 20 years,[1] and extended this right to people who were too young to vote at the time of leaving Britain.[2][3]

The act quadrupled the local expenditure limits in order to curtail abuse.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "legislation.gov.uk". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Postal and proxy voting". BBC News. 29 May 2001. Retrieved 3 March 2026.
  3. ^ Blackburn, Robert (1995). "The Electoral System in Britain". doi:10.1007/978-1-349-24090-6. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ Wilks-Heeg, Stuart (2008). "Purity of Elections in the UK: Causes for Concern" (PDF). The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. Retrieved 3 March 2026.