British citizens living in Bermuda were urged this week to make sure they are eligible to vote in UK elections and referendums.

The UK Electoral Commission is reminding British citizens living overseas that they must be on the electoral register to vote. If a UK General Election were called for May 5, for example, electors would need to register by March 11 to vote.

British expatriates who have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years can apply to be overseas voters. If they were too young to register when leaving the UK, a parent or guardian must have registered.

An electoral registration form can be found on the Electoral Commission?s voter information site, www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

The site also contains details on how to register as an overseas voter. The completed registration form should be returned to the electoral registration office for the address where they were last registered to vote in the UK.

Overseas voters can also apply to vote by post if they want a ballot paper sent to them, or by proxy if they want someone else to vote on their behalf. Overseas voters are eligible to vote in elections for the UK Parliament and the European Parliament.

?It?s important people realise that they need to be on the electoral register to be able to vote,? Electoral Commission communication director Angela Salt said in a press statement.