Previous literature explains the fact that sub-national elections tend to be more
inclusive than national elections by reference to the level of the election. This paper argues that
the constitutional status of the election is more decisive. This is illustrated by evidence from the
British Overseas Territories (BOTs) where resident citizens without ‘belonger’ status are excluded
from the vote. Elections in BOTs are less inclusive because they are significant to the future
constitutional status of the territory. Finally, the paper considers the implications of our thesis for
the ongoing dispute on belongership between the UK and BOTs.

Camilla Wangmar and Ludvig Beckman, Excluding Citizens: Belongership and the Constitutional Demos in British Overseas Territories, Ethnopolitics, 2024.