Overseas constituency

An overseas constituency or overseas electoral district is any electoral district located outside of a nation-state's borders but which is recognized by the state's government as a district for the representation of its expatriate (and, technically, military) residents who live within the territory of another nation-state. Such constituencies are often organized in order to engage expatriate or diaspora voters who retain their citizenship.

The overseas constituency is considered different from intra-party primaries (organized and funded entirely by political parties or political party organizations with overseas offices) held overseas for expatriate voters.

Overseas constituencies may perform their votes at diplomatic embassies and consulates of their home nation-state, through absentee voting or through electronic voting (including Internet voting).

Former
The Cook Islands established provisions for an overseas parliamentary seat in 1981, but abolished it in 2003.

Taiwan formerly elected 6 representatives representing overseas constituents to the Legislative Yuan from 1947 to 2004. This constituency was merged in the 2008 election with the national at-large multi-member seat which covers all of Taiwan as well as all territory claimed by the Republic of China on the mainland, which is elected using Party-list proportional representation.

Expatriate voting in at-large parliamentary elections
Some countries which allow for overseas citizens to vote in parliamentary elections also have at-large constituencies in their parliaments, which technically allow for candidates to campaign for votes from, as well as represent, all overseas citizens as well as all domestic citizens simultaneously:


 * Netherlands (All 150 seats in the House of Representatives)
 * Philippines (All 24 seats in the Senate, elected through First-past-the-post; 20% of seats in the House of Representatives, elected through Party-list proportional representation with a maximum 3 seats per party)
 * Taiwan (34 seats in the Legislative Yuan, elected through party-list proportional representation; however, in practice, overseas Taiwanese are only allowed to vote in presidential elections. Voting is only allowed for overseas citizens who have once had household registration in the “Free Area”, and must be physically present at the polling location on the mainland. There is no provision for absentee voting, but overseas voters may update their voter registration by mail.)

Issues and criticism
The establishment of overseas constituencies has generated concern among some governments over possible infringements over national sovereignty. Notably, the Canadian government of Stephen Harper in 2011 protested at the establishment of such constituencies covering the territory of Canada by France and Tunisia, and publicly declared that voting booths for the upcoming elections for both countries would not be allowed in Canadian territory. However, in 2012, an agreement was reached between the three countries whereby such booths could be located primarily in embassies and consulate offices. Canada was the only nation that opposed being included in the overseas constituencies.

United Kingdom
Conservatives Abroad (CA) is the official political organization and global network of the Conservative Party for British citizens living permanently or temporarily abroad.

Labour International similarly represents overseas Labour Party voters.

The Liberal Democrats has an international branch, Lib Dems Abroad, encompassing some 2000 party members living outside the UK.

United States
Democrats Abroad is an organization which encourages support among U.S. citizens living overseas for the Democratic Party; it has sent a delegation to the Democratic National Convention since 1976 and held its first worldwide party primary in 2008. It is recognized as a "state committee" on par with other statewide committees within U.S. territory.