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Does the Queen Vote in general elections?

I seem to recall that, as head of state, she is above this and other aspects of citizenship (eg. jury service) - is this true?

How far down the line of succession do you go before someone is expected or permitted to vote? Eg. can Prince Charles and/or Prince William as presumptive future heads of state vote? What about their spouses?

10 Answers

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  • heyhey
    Lv 6
    9 years ago
    Favourite answer

    Under current British law the Queen is allowed to vote, but she chooses not to in order to preserve her neutrality within the Political system, as for the rest of the Royals i suppose it`s their personal choice

  • ?
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Does The Queen Vote

  • 9 years ago

    No.

    There are others that don't either - in Canada, the Chief Electoral Officer (and his deputy) don't vote, and I believe Justices of the Supreme Court don't either - or, at least the Chief Justice. There are a few others too.

    I am not sure how far down the line that extends, but, I should imagine the Royal Family members can vote, other than the Queen. I could be wrong on that one though.

  • Paco
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    During the reign of Queen Victoria there were several customs established for the monarchy.

    (1) The working royal family should be apolitical. It is not law, but custom. Prior to Victoria the monarchy was very political. Being apolitical meant foregoing their right to vote, and also making other decisions which they were entitled to, but chose not to do.

    (2) Charity should be an important part of the royal family.

    (3) International travel was a critical role of the royal family. For centuries no English monarch had even been to Scotland. The Prince of Wales at the age of 21 had a triumphant visit to Canada and the United States. The role of royalty as ambassadors to the world was established.

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    The election is to grant a sparkling residing house of Commons and the Queen isn't a commoner. Parliament is made up of three aspects: the Monarch, the residing house of Lords, and the residing house of Commons. friends of the area are or were given each and every a seat contained in the better residing house. Bannishing the hereditaries from the Lords has effectively disfranchised them, alongside with the lengthy commonly used excluded caterories: monks of the widely used church (who've their Bishops to represent them contained in the Lords), lunatics, felons (in spite of the indisputable fact that I see the european is calling for to modify that) and women (oh, sorry, they now do have the vote).

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Anyone who is not the sovereign can vote (and be called to serve on a jury), but I suspect Prince Charles does not, as he is the future King. I couldn't venture a guess about the others.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    The Queen by law is not allowed to vote as she has to be apolitical. Whilst her children and grandchildren are allowed to vote (providing they are over 18) they do not as a matter of course. I'm not sure about her untitled grandchildren (Peter and Zara Phillips) due to their distance from the throne (although admittedly Peter is the father of the Queen's only great-grandchildren at present).

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Quote from the BBC.

    It is commonly thought that members of the Royal family are not allowed to vote, but this is not true.

    The Queen can vote, as can members of her family, but they do not do so because in practice it would be considered unconstitutional.

  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    No, she doesn't but, she can. The Royal family don't as they feel that it could sway people's opinion.

  • 9 years ago

    No.

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