This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/02/scots-scotland-vote-on-independence

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Let us Scottish 'expats' vote on independence Let us Scottish 'expats' vote on independence
(3 months later)
Scotland's approaching independence referendum means that next year could see its biggest political shakeup since the 1707 Act of Union and it is already dividing Scots who can vote from Scots who can't.Scotland's approaching independence referendum means that next year could see its biggest political shakeup since the 1707 Act of Union and it is already dividing Scots who can vote from Scots who can't.
Votes will be restricted to those currently living in Scotland, despite a Labour MSP raising a debate saying this was "massively unfair". The SNP's Bruce Crawford, convener of the referendum bill committee, has said that working out entitlement for non-resident Scots would "add significant complexity" to the process. While there are 400,000 people living in Scotland who were born elsewhere in the UK, there are twice as many Scots living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who won't be receiving ballot papers. Scotland has a population of 5 million, and including the wandering Scots would boost this by 16%.Votes will be restricted to those currently living in Scotland, despite a Labour MSP raising a debate saying this was "massively unfair". The SNP's Bruce Crawford, convener of the referendum bill committee, has said that working out entitlement for non-resident Scots would "add significant complexity" to the process. While there are 400,000 people living in Scotland who were born elsewhere in the UK, there are twice as many Scots living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who won't be receiving ballot papers. Scotland has a population of 5 million, and including the wandering Scots would boost this by 16%.
Like many recession-era graduates, I made the move south of the border where the employment pickings were richer, and the majority of my Scottish friends have done similarly. Despite being away for just a couple of years, we will miss out on a decision that could result in the Scotland we return to being vastly different from the Scotland we left.Like many recession-era graduates, I made the move south of the border where the employment pickings were richer, and the majority of my Scottish friends have done similarly. Despite being away for just a couple of years, we will miss out on a decision that could result in the Scotland we return to being vastly different from the Scotland we left.
There is an uncomfortable feeling that the referendum plans are being made to try to give the yes vote the best possible chance rather than offering a genuine choice. It follows that Scots living in other parts of Britain could be more likely to see the benefit of the union and thus vote no. Meanwhile, support for independence was thought to be stronger among young Scots and SNP–backed legislation is under way to allow 16-year-olds to vote – although this isn't quite working out as planned: a study released last month found that only one in five teenagers is planning to vote yes. At the moment you retain eligibility to vote in Westminster (but not Holyrood) elections for 15 years after you were last on the electoral roll and with amendments this could provide the basis for a solution. By the time you've clocked up a decade and a half of living elsewhere that should really count as a permanent move but a shorter time limit – say five years – would seem reasonable, especially if the onus was on individuals to submit their details, including when they were last on a Scottish electoral roll.There is an uncomfortable feeling that the referendum plans are being made to try to give the yes vote the best possible chance rather than offering a genuine choice. It follows that Scots living in other parts of Britain could be more likely to see the benefit of the union and thus vote no. Meanwhile, support for independence was thought to be stronger among young Scots and SNP–backed legislation is under way to allow 16-year-olds to vote – although this isn't quite working out as planned: a study released last month found that only one in five teenagers is planning to vote yes. At the moment you retain eligibility to vote in Westminster (but not Holyrood) elections for 15 years after you were last on the electoral roll and with amendments this could provide the basis for a solution. By the time you've clocked up a decade and a half of living elsewhere that should really count as a permanent move but a shorter time limit – say five years – would seem reasonable, especially if the onus was on individuals to submit their details, including when they were last on a Scottish electoral roll.
It is a sore point to Scottish "expats" that they lost their vote in the referendum by taking jobs elsewhere. I can't help but think that if I'd decided to travel the world and keep my parents' address, instead of moving 500 miles away, there could be a postal vote with my name on it. Denying non-resident Scots a vote might be easier, but that doesn't make it right.It is a sore point to Scottish "expats" that they lost their vote in the referendum by taking jobs elsewhere. I can't help but think that if I'd decided to travel the world and keep my parents' address, instead of moving 500 miles away, there could be a postal vote with my name on it. Denying non-resident Scots a vote might be easier, but that doesn't make it right.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.