Scottish Referendum

[whiskeryron]

Does anyone agree with me that denying born Scots the ability to vote because at present they live elsewhere other than in Scotland should be declared illegal ?

[jourdain2]

Yes.

[factor-fiction]

No

[whiskeryron]

Do bear in mind that when we have local elections Irish Republic Nationals who have settled in the UK are entitled to vote.

[tonyav]

No here as well.

[zebo]

As it will affect the whole UK, maybe we should all have a say. What's a born Scot? Is that an accident of geography or does it require Scottish antecedents?

[retrocop]

If they live in England I think they should be required to move back to Scotland should they wish to vote Yes and Salmond achieved his wish of Scottish Independence. If Scotland went belly up after a yes vote was successful why should we have Scots living in our side of the border taking employment and housing enjoying the fruits of backing two horses?

[ichkeria]

Not sure what the rules are. Normally citizens of a country might expect to vote in that country's elections even though they live abroad. But then there is currently no such thing as Scottish citizenship, so that wouldn't apply. If you live permanently in Scotland but are currently abroad then you should be able to get a postal vote. Otherwise I don't see how it could reasonably work.

The analogy with Irish people voting in English elections is not relevant. Unless you mean that they can vote in Irish elections? As above, if they are Irish citizens then they may be eligible to do so.

[retrocop]

Jordyboy
We would never know how Scots,given the chance,would have voted this side of the border would we so it was a hypothetical point. If Scotland said yes and it went belly up then I would expect there might be a small exodus from the resident sassenachs there who would no longer enjoy the benefits of the Union with Scotland. Scotland does'nt give free University Education to English kids but will give it to foreign students who hav'nt subsidised Scotland all these years as the English tax payer has. Just one example.

[Baldric]

No, not at all.

[FrogNog]

No. I totally disagree with you.

[Booldawg]

If they are allowed to vote on a subject that isn't going to directly affect them, they are more likely to vote with their heart rather than their head. Only people residing in Scotland should be eligible.

[Baldric]

Nor do I think that what happens in Local Elections in the ROI has any relevance whatsoever to the Scottish Referendum, hardly a Local Election is it?

[jno]

I'm not allowed to vote in my homeland, because I live here. But if it were a referendum on independence, perhaps it would be different.

[anneasquith]

so if a scot lives in Australia. should they have a vote ?

[Old_Geezer]

No. I understand the concern, but folk who go to live elsewhere are not usually allowed to vote on constitutional issues of the country they've chosen to leave behind. Things are kept simple rather than try to work out complex rules on who can and can't vote.

[boxtops]

It does seem somewhat unequal, though, that someone who moved to Scotland from, say, Europe, a short while before the eligibility date is allowed to vote on this important issue, even though they may have little idea of Scottish history - whereas people who still have family in Scotland but live elsewhere, can't vote.

[THECORBYLOON]

RON, Irish Nationals in the UK can vote in our General Elections as can Cypriot and Maltese citizens (unlike other Europeans) and folk from the Commonwealth. I think there was a legal challenge to the restriction for the Referendum some months ago but I've not looked.

[anneasquith]

boxy, if you don't live in the country, and take the good and the bad it has to offer, then why would you have a vote,

[jno]

people don't always move away for ever; they may have to follow their work abroad for a few years, but it doesn't mean they've ceased to be Scottish.