Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will respond to (a) the letter sent to him on 28 April by the organisation New Europeans, (b) Early Day motion 2357, tabled on 1 May and (c) the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Ilford South, of 9 May 2019 on EU citizens voting in the European election on 23 May 2019.

The latest date in which an EU citizen can submit a UC1 form to register as an elector in the European Parliament elections is 12 working days before the date of the election. This is based on regulations contained within Representation of the People Act 1983, Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001, Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001, and Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008.

The rules governing the conduct of European Parliament elections provide for poll cards only to be sent to individuals who are registered to vote in the poll or an individual who has been appointed to vote as proxy for an elector. There is no provision for poll cards to be issued to any other individuals.

Council Directive 93/109/EC requires all Member States to send the details of any EU citizens' declarations to their Home State to ensure an EU citizen does not vote twice, both here and in another EU country. The Council Directive specifies that this has to be done "sufficiently in advance of polling day"