Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that EU citizens in the UK who wish to vote in the EU elections are able to do so by (a) making the UC1 form which EU citizens need to complete in order to declare they are not voting in another EU member state available at all polling stations on 23 May 2019; (b) instructing all local authorities to write by first-class mail to EU citizens to inform them they will be able to vote by filling in a UC1 form which will be available at polling stations; and (c) directing local authorities to send polling cards to all EU citizens and not just those who have completed and returned the UC1 form.

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.