Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the turnout among (a) members of the armed forces serving abroad and (b) their family members living with them abroad, in the recent General Election.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Members of the armed forces serving abroad, or away from home in the UK, can vote with a postal vote or by proxy or in person if they are in their constituency on polling day.
Data that segments voters into categories of profession or other demographics is not collected as this could impact the secrecy of the ballot. In any event many armed forces personnel will have registered as ordinary electors and not in any manner that would identify them as service personnel at the time of voting.
We will continue to work with stakeholders to support the voting process for overseas electors, including armed forces serving abroad.
Asked by: Scott Benton (Independent - Blackpool South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to assist members of the armed forces serving abroad to take part in future elections.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Members of the armed forces serving abroad, or away from home in the UK, can vote with a postal vote or by proxy or in person if they are in their constituency on polling day. We work with the British Forces Post Office to ensure that mail specifically for service personnel, sent to forces post office addresses, is delivered as quickly as possible. We also work Royal Mail on overseas deliveries, through a specific provision to expedite dispatch of mail to overseas addresses.
We will continue to work with these stakeholders and others to support the voting process for overseas electors, including armed forces serving abroad.