Irish nationals' right to vote in UK

[Carol Anne]

Got my form from the council today canvassing for the electoral register. On it Irish Nationals are treated in the same way as British citizens whereas nationals of all other EU nations are categorised separately. Why is this? Im sure the authorities in Eire just treat British the same as any other EU citizen why do thy UK authorities make a special case for Irish citizens?

[Ethel]

he right of Irish and Commonwealth citizens to vote is strange by the standards of elections across the world, as citizenship and the right to vote are usually synonymous. It is a legacy of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which limited the vote to British subjects. At that time, "British subjects" included the people of Ireland � then part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland � and all other parts of the British Empire. Though Ireland (see Ireland Act 1949) and the colonies became independent nations, their citizens have retained the right to vote in the UK if they live in the UK.

From here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_the_ United_Kingdom

[Carol Anne]

Interestingly I see that amongst those not eligble to vote are undischarged bankrupts. I wonder why, as it's not a criminal offence to be bankrupt and voting is such a fundemental right in a democracy.

[cucuhullan]

I was born in Southern Ireland and have often wondered why I have the right to vote in a British Election.
I regard that right as one of my most treasured possessions and I am proud to say that I have voted in every single election (local and national )since I became eligible to do so.

[kempie]

In regard of undisclosed bankrupts, I believe that the Wikipedia article has confused eligibility to vote with eligibility to stand as a candidate for election.

[kempie]

* undischarged bankrupts (doh!)

[Carol Anne]

o i c :-)

[dot.hawkes]

what about Gibraltar. can they vote too?

[JamesEverton]

Apparently UK nationals are similarly eligible to vote in Irish elections if they are resident in Ireland.

See: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question10 4981.html