Voting rights could be extended to refugees

The Minister for Parliamentary Business Jo Fitzpatrick confirmed to the Parliament that the Scottish Government plans to extend the voting franchise to all EU and non-EU adults who are resident in Scotland, including refugees and those seeking asylum.

This would include the right to vote in local and Scottish Parliamentary elections.

The Government had previously carried out a consultation on this issue. For this change to pass through Parliament, it will need a two-thirds super majority.

You can read the Scottish Refugee Council’s response to this announcement here.

 

 

Image credit: Amanda Wood, Flickr