To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that service men are given equal voting opportunities with the rest of the electorate.

The electoral registration arrangements for service personnel allow those in the United Kingdom to vote in person, by post or by proxy at parliamentary and local government elections. Service personnel based overseas, like other British citizens living overseas, may vote only by proxy at parliamentary elections. All new recruits are advised of the service electoral registration arrangements and service personnel are regularly reminded of their existence to encourage them to register so that they can exercise their right to vote.