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The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001

Type Statutory-Instrument

Publication 2001-02-09

Last updated 2026-02-05

State In force

Department King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

Source legislation.gov.uk

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(c) if he wishes to remain entered in the register anonymously, the application for registration must be accompanied by a fresh application for an anonymous entry.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply where the registration officer has already received from that person a fresh application for registration made in accordance with the requirements prescribed for the purposes of section 10A(1)(a) which is accompanied by a fresh application for an anonymous entry.

(4) In this regulation, “the relevant period” must be construed in accordance with regulation 25(3)(a).

Applications for registration

Objections to registration

Inspection of applications and objections

Objections relating to applications that have been allowed, but before alterations to register have taken effect

31A

(1) This regulation applies where—

(a) an application for registration has been allowed (whether without or following a hearing), and

(b) either—

(i) an objection is later made to that application, or

(ii) an objector whose objection in respect of that application has been disallowed in pursuance of regulation 29(5A) notifies the registration officer, in accordance with regulation 29(5C), that he requires the objection to be heard, and

(c) no alteration to the register has yet taken effect in respect of that application by virtue of section 13(5), 13A(2) ,13AB(2) or 13B(3) of the 1983 Act.

(2) Where the registration officer—

(a) is able to determine the objection before the alteration to the register is due to take effect, and

(b) allows the objection,

the application is to be treated as if it had been disallowed.

(3) Where the registration officer is not able to determine the objection before the alteration to the register is due to take effect, the objection is to be treated as if it was made after the person against whom it is made is entered in the register.

(4) Where paragraph (3) applies, the registration officer must transfer the entry relating to the objection from the list he keeps in pursuance of paragraph (2)(b) of regulation 29 to the list he keeps in pursuance of paragraph (2)(c) of that regulation.

Other determinations by registration officer of entitlement to registration

31B

(1) A registration officer must discharge the functions specified in paragraph (2) in accordance with regulations 31C to 31FZA.

(2) The functions specified in this paragraph are—

(a) determining, under the following provisions, whether a person was entitled to be registered—

(i) sections 7(3)(aa), 7A(3)(aa), 7C(2)(aa), 10ZE(1)(a) and 15(2)(aa) of the 1983 Act, and

(ii) section 1D(4)(a) of the 1985 Act;

(b) determining, under the following provisions, whether a person was registered or their entry has been altered as a result of an application made by another person—

(i) sections 7(3)(ab), 7A(3)(ab), 7C(2)(ab), 10ZE(1)(c) and 15(2)(ab) of the 1983 Act; and

(ii) section 1D(4)(b) of the 1985 Act;

(c) determining under section 10ZE(1)(b) of the 1983 Act whether a person has ceased to be resident at the address or has otherwise ceased to satisfy the conditions for registration set out in section 4 of the 1983 Act.

Summary procedure for determining in specified circumstances person has ceased to satisfy conditions for registration

31C

(1) In any of the circumstances specified in paragraph (2) the registration officer may make a determination under section 10ZE of the 1983 Act in respect of an elector without following the procedure set out in regulations 31D to 31FZA.

(2) The circumstances specified in this paragraph are where ...—

(a) the registration officer has received information either through the digital service or from another registration officer that—

(i) the elector has made an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act in respect of an address which is different from the one in respect of which they are registered; and

(ii) in that application the elector has in accordance with regulation 26(1)(c) identified the address in respect of which they are registered as being an address at which they have ceased to reside; and

the relevant registration officer has determined that the person should be entered on the register maintained by that officer; or

(b) the registration officer—

(i) has information from at least two sources that support such a determination;

(ii) has been provided with a death certificate in respect of the elector; or

(iii) has been notified by the registrar of births and deaths that the elector has died ; or

(i) has determined that the elector has died after inspecting records kept by—

(aa) the council by which the registration officer was appointed,

(bb) where the council by which the registration officer was appointed is a council for a district in a county for which there is a county council, that county council, or

(cc) a person providing services to, or authorised to exercise any function of, the council referred to in (aa) or (bb);

(ii) has received information from the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the elector, which allows the registration officer to determine that the elector has died;

(iii) has received information as a result of the annual canvass required by section 9D of the 1983 Act, which allows the registration officer to determine that the elector has died; or

(iv) has received information from a person managing a care home service registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000 where the elector was resident, which allows the registration officer to determine that the elector has died.

(2A) The information referred to in paragraph (2)(c)(ii) and (iv) may be provided in person, by telephone or in writing and must include—

(a) the full name and address of the elector who has died;

(b) the full name and address of the person providing the information and, in case of information received under paragraph (2)(c)(ii), that person’s relationship to the elector; and

(c) a statement that the person providing the information is aware of the penalty for providing false information to a registration officer.

(2B) Where the information referred to in paragraph (2)(c)(ii) and (iv) has been provided in person or by telephone by virtue of paragraph (2A), the registration officer must record that information in writing or in data form.

(3) In this regulation “elector” means a person who is duly entered in a register in respect of an address.

Procedure for reviewing entitlement to registration

31D

(1) A registration officer must, for the purposes of making a determination of the nature specified in regulation 31B(2), conduct a review in respect of a person entered in the register.

(2) Where the registration officer is not satisfied that the subject of the review is entitled to be registered, he must—

(a) send to that person such notice, of a kind specified in paragraph (4), as he considers appropriate, and

(b) enter the review in the list kept in pursuance of regulation 31E.

(3) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply where the subject of a review has an anonymous entry.

(3A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, paragraph (2)(b) does not apply where the subject of the review is under the age of 16.

(4) A notice is specified for the purposes of this paragraph if it—

(a) states that the registration officer is of the opinion that the subject of the review is or was not entitled to be registered, or has an entry in the register which results from or was altered as the result of an application made by another person, and the grounds for his opinion,

(b) states the reason for the review and requires the subject of the review to provide such further information as might be specified in the notice or requires him to make a declaration under regulation 24 or 24A, or both, or

(4A) A notice specified for the purposes of paragraph (4)(a) must also state that—

(a) where the subject of the review does not notify the registration officer within 14 days beginning with the date of the notice that the subject of the review requires the review to be heard, the registration officer may determine the review and remove the subject’s entry from the register;

(b) the subject of the review would not be entitled to a right of appeal against the registration officer’s determination in the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (a); and

(c) after 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, the subject of the review can contact the registration officer to find out if the registration officer has removed the subject’s entry from the register.

(5) Where—

(a) the registration officer sends to the subject of the review a notice in the form specified in paragraph (4)(a), and

(b) that person does not, within 14 days beginning with the date of that notice, notify the registration officer that he requires the review to be heard,

the registration officer may determine without a hearing that the subject of the review was not entitled to be registered , that the subject of the review was registered and their entry has been altered as the result of an application made by another person, or, as the case may be, that the subject of the review has ceased to satisfy the conditions for registration set out in section 4 of the 1983 Act.

(6) Paragraph (7) applies where—

(a) the registration officer sends to the subject of the review a notice in the form specified in paragraph (4)(b), and

(b) that person does not respond to the registration officer’s satisfaction, or at all, within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of that notice.

(7) The registration officer may send a notice to the subject of the review which states that—

(a) the registration officer is not satisfied that the subject of the review is or was entitled to be registered, or that the subject’s entry in the register does not result from or has not been altered as the result of an application made by another person, and the grounds for the registration officer’s opinion;

(b) if within 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, the subject of the review does not require the review to be heard, the registration officer may determine the review and remove the subject’s entry from the register;

(c) the subject of the review would not be entitled to a right of appeal against the registration officer’s determination in the circumstances described in sub-paragraph (b); and

(d) after 14 days beginning with the date of the notice, the subject of the review can contact the registration officer to find out if the registration officer has removed the subject’s entry from the register.

(8) Where—

(a) the registration officer sends to the subject of the review a notice in pursuance of paragraph (7), and

(b) the subject of the review does not, within the period of 14 days beginning with the date of that notice, notify the registration officer that he requires the review to be heard,

(9) In making a determination under paragraph (5) or (8), the registration officer must take into account any written representations made to him by the subject of the review and may take into account the written representations of any other person who appears to him to be interested.

(10) In this regulation and regulations 31E and 31F—

“review” must be construed in accordance with paragraph (1);

“the subject of the review” means the person in respect of whom the review is conducted.

List of reviews

31E

(1) The registration officer must keep a list of reviews.

(2) The list must contain, in relation to each review, the following particulars—

(a) the full name of the subject of the review,

(b) his electoral number,

(d) the reason for the review.

(3) The list must be made available for inspection at the registration officer’s office.

(4) This regulation does not apply to any review where the subject of the review has an anonymous entry.

(5) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, this regulation does not apply to any review where the subject of the review is under the age of 16.

Hearings of reviews

31F

(1) Where the registration officer determines that a hearing of the review should be conducted, the notice given under regulation 31D(4)(c) must also state the time and place at which he proposes to hear the review.

(2) Where the subject of the review requires the review to be heard, the registration officer must send to that person a notice stating the time and place at which he proposes to hear the review.

(3) The time fixed for the hearing must not be earlier than the third day after the date of the notice in which that time is stated.

(4) The persons entitled to appear and be heard are—

(a) the subject of the review;

(b) any other person who appears to the registration officer to be interested.

(5) Paragraphs (2) to (4) of regulation 31 apply to the hearing of a review as they apply to the hearing of an application for registration or objection.

(6) The registration officer may determine that the subject of the review was not entitled to be registered , that the subject of the review was registered and their entry has been altered as the result of an application made by another person, or, as the case may be, that the subject of the review has ceased to satisfy the conditions for registration set out in section 4 of the 1983 Act, despite the failure of that person (or any other person entitled to appear and be heard) to attend.

(7) In making a determination under paragraph (6), the registration officer must take into account any written representations made to him by the subject of the review and may take into account the written representations of any other person who appears to him to be interested.

Anonymous registration: applications and declarations

31G

(1) An application for an anonymous entry must state—

(a) the applicant’s full name,

(b) the address given in accordance with regulation 26(1)(b),

(d) the date of the application.

(2) The application must be in writing and signed by the applicant.

(3) The application must be accompanied by evidence of the nature prescribed in regulation 31I or 31J.

(4) Where the evidence mentioned in paragraph (3) relates not to the applicant, but to another person of the same household as the applicant, the application must be accompanied by evidence that that person is of that household.

(5) The application must be accompanied by a declaration made by the applicant that—

(a) the particulars given in accordance with paragraph (1) are true,

(b) so far as he is aware, the evidence provided in pursuance of paragraph (3) is genuine, and

(i) the person to whom the evidence relates is a person of the same household of the applicant, and

(ii) so far as he is aware, the evidence provided in pursuance of paragraph (4) is genuine.

(6) The application may give an address to which the registration officer must send correspondence, other than the address given in accordance with paragraph (1)(b).

(7) Where an application for an anonymous entry is made by a person who is, or who has applied to be, registered as an elector in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, this regulation applies as if—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) the reference in sub-paragraph (b) to regulation 26(1)(b) were a reference to section 1C(2)(a)(i), (3)(a)(i) or (4) of the 1985 Act;

(ii) after sub-paragraph (b) there were inserted—

(ba) the address given in accordance with regulation 18(4) or 22B(1);

(b) paragraph (6) were omitted.

Anonymous registration: determination of applications by registration officer

31H

(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—

(a) the registration officer determines that the applicant for an anonymous entry is entitled to be registered, and

(b) the application for an anonymous entry is made in accordance with regulation 31G(1), (2) and (5).

(2) The registration officer must determine that the safety test is satisfied (and accordingly allow the application for an anonymous entry) where he is satisfied—

(a) that the evidence provided in support of the application in pursuance of regulation 31G(3) constitutes evidence of the nature prescribed in regulation 31I or 31J, and

(b) in the case of an application where regulation 31G(4) applies, that the evidence provided in pursuance of that paragraph establishes that the person in question is a person of the same household as the applicant.

Anonymous registration: evidence consisting of relevant court orders or injunctions

31I

(1) Evidence which meets the following conditions is prescribed for the purposes of regulations 31G(3) and 31H(2)(a).

(2) The first condition is that the evidence is, or is a copy of, a relevant order or injunction.

(3) A relevant order or injunction is—

(a) an injunction for the purpose of restraining a person from pursuing any conduct which amounts to harassment granted in proceedings under section 3 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997;

(b) an injunction granted under section 3A(2) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997[^f00019];

(c) a restraining order made under section 5(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997[^f00020] or section 360 of the Sentencing Code;

(d) a restraining order on acquittal made under section 5A(1) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997[^f00021];

(e) a non-harassment order, interdict or interim interdict made under section 8 or 8A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997;

(f) a non-harassment order made under section 234A(2) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995[^f00022];

(g) a non-molestation order made under section 42(2) of the Family Law Act 1996[^f00023];

(h) an injunction for the purpose of restraining a person from pursuing any conduct which amounts to harassment granted in proceedings under article 5 of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;

(i) a restraining order made under article 7 of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;

(j) a restraining order on acquittal made under article 7A(1) of the Protection from Harassment (Northern Ireland) Order 1997;

(k) a non-molestation order made under article 20(2) of the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (Northern Ireland) Order 1998;

(l) a matrimonial interdict within the meaning of section 14 of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981;

(m) a domestic interdict within the meaning of section 18A of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981;

(n) a relevant interdict within the meaning of section 113 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004;

(o) an interdict that has been determined to be a domestic abuse interdict within the meaning of section 3 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2011;

(p) any interdict with an attached power of arrest made under section 1 of the Protection from Abuse (Scotland) Act 2001;

(q) a forced marriage protection order or interim forced marriage protection order made under any of the following provisions—

(i) Part 4A of the Family Law Act 1996;

(ii) section 2 of, and paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to, the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007;

(iii) section 1 of the Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Act 2011; and

(iv) section 5 of the Forced Marriage etc. (Protection and Jurisdiction) (Scotland) Act 2011;

(r) a domestic violence protection order made under section 28 of the Crime and Security Act 2010 or section 97 of, and paragraph 5 of Schedule 7 to, the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015;

(s) a female genital mutilation protection order made under section 5A of, and paragraphs 1 or 18 of Schedule 2 to, the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003;

(t) except in relation to an application for an anonymous entry on a register of local government electors in Wales, a domestic abuse protection order within the meaning of section 27 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

(4) The second condition is that the relevant order or injunction is made for the protection, or otherwise for the benefit, of—

(a) the applicant for an anonymous entry, or

(b) another person of the same household as him.

(5) The third condition is that the relevant order or injunction is in force on the day on which the application for an anonymous entry is made.

Anonymous registration: evidence by attestation

31J

(1) An attestation within the meaning of this regulation is prescribed for the purposes of regulations 31G(3) and 31H(2)(a).

(2) The attestation must—

(a) certify that the safety of the applicant, or of another named person of the same household as him, would be at risk if the register contained the name of the applicant or his qualifying address,

(b) state the date on which it is made, and

(2A) Where the applicant is or has applied to be registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, the reference in paragraph (2)(a) to the applicant’s qualifying address includes a reference to the address provided by the applicant in accordance with regulation 18(4) or 22B(1).

(3) The attestation must state the period for which it has effect, being a period of between one and five years beginning with the date on which the attestation is made.

(4) Qualifying officer means—

(a) a police officer of or above the rank of inspector of any police force in England and Wales;

(b) a police officer of or above the rank of inspector of the Police Service of Scotland;

(d) the Director General of the Security Service;

(e) the Director General of the Serious Organised Crime Agency;

(f) any director of adult social services in England within the meaning of section 6(A1) of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970;

(g) any director of children’s services in England within the meaning of section 18 of the Children Act 2004;

(h) any director of social services in Wales within the meaning of section 144 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014;

(i) any chief social work officer in Scotland within the meaning of section 3 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968;

(j) any director of social services of a Health and Social Services Board established under article 16 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972;

(k) any executive director of social work of a Health and Social Services Trust established under article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

(l) any registered medical practitioner;

(m) any registered nurse or midwife;

(n) any person who manages a refuge.

(5) In this regulation “refuge” means accommodation together with a planned programme of therapeutic and practical support for victims of, or those at risk of, domestic abuse or violence.

(6) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, where the applicant is under the age of 16 on the date on which the application is made—

(a) “qualifying officer” also includes a person authorised in writing for the purposes of this regulation by an officer referred to in paragraph (4)(h), and

(b) where the attestation is signed by a person so authorised, the attestation must be accompanied by a copy of the person's authorisation.

Registration appeals

Representations regarding clerical errors

32A

(1) For the purposes of section 13B(3C) of the 1983 Act a representation may be made orally or in writing.

(2) Where a representation is made in a polling station to a presiding officer, the presiding officer must as soon as practicable communicate that representation to the relevant registration officer.

Circumstances when the power in section 10A(5)(b) of the 1983 Act applies

Retaining entries in register

Registration officer’s right to inspect certain records

Notices in connection with registration

Communication of notices made on polling day

36A

(1) Where a notice is issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act on the day of the poll, the registration officer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the notice comes to the attention of the relevant presiding officer.

(2) Such steps may include communicating the notice to the presiding officer by telephone.

(3) Where a notice issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act is communicated to a presiding officer by telephone, the presiding officer must make a written record of that notice.

Notice by registration officer of a change of address

Anonymous entries

41A

(1) An anonymous entry of a person consists of that person’s electoral number together with the letter “N”.

(2) The entry is to be entered in the register—

(a) at the end of the part of the register which relates to the qualifying address of the person entitled to the entry,

(b) under the heading of “Other electors” as mentioned in regulation 41(3)(b), and

Marking of names

Publication of register

Information about register

Preparation and publication of list of overseas electors

Record of anonymous entries

45A

(1) The registration officer must keep a record of anonymous entries.

(2) The registration officer must enter in the record each person who is entered in the register with an anonymous entry.

(3) The entry in the record must contain the following particulars—

(a) the full name of the person to whom the entry relates;

(b) his electoral number;

(d) where he has given in his application for an anonymous entry an address other than his qualifying address to which correspondence should be sent, that address;

(e) the date on which the anonymous entry in the register took effect.

(4) Where the application of a person with an anonymous entry to vote by post is granted, the registration officer must also enter in the record the address to which the postal ballot paper should be sent as given in the application (in accordance with regulation 51(2)(d)).

Duties of registration officer and his staff in relation to record of anonymous entries

45B

(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) the registration officer,

(b) any deputy registration officer, and

(c) any person appointed to assist any such officer or who in the course of his employment is assigned to assist such officer in his registration duties.

(2) Where the registration officer is also the returning officer or acting returning officer at any election or counting officer at any referendum (and in consequence has access to the record of anonymous entries without being supplied with a copy of it), this regulation applies to—

(a) the registration officer acting in that other capacity,

(b) any deputy returning officer, deputy acting returning officer or deputy counting officer, and

(c) any person appointed to assist any person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) or who in the course of his employment is assigned to assist any such officer in his duties in respect of the election or referendum in question.

(3) No person to whom this regulation applies may—

(a) supply to any person a copy of the record,

(b) disclose information contained in it, or

otherwise than in accordance with an enactment (including these Regulations) or the order of any court or tribunal made at any hearing or during the course of any proceedings.

(4) Nothing in paragraph (3) applies to the supply or disclosure by a person to whom this regulation applies to another such person in connection with his registration duties or for the purposes of an election or referendum.

(5) The persons to whom this regulation applies must take proper precautions for the safe custody of the record.

(6) In this regulation and regulation 45C—

“counting officer” means the counting officer at a referendum held by or under any Act;

“enactment” has the same meaning as in section 17(2) of the 2000 Act[^f00035].

Supply of record of anonymous entries to returning and counting officers

45C

(1) Paragraph (2) applies whenever the registration officer supplies a copy of the full register, or any part of it, to a returning officer or counting officer.

(2) The registration officer must supply—

(a) together with the copy of the register, a copy of the record of anonymous entries;

(b) together with any part of the register, a copy of the record so far as it relates to that part.

(3) A registration officer may supply a copy of the record to a returning officer or counting officer at any other time.

(4) No person to whom a copy of the record has been supplied under this regulation may—

(a) supply a copy of the record,

(b) disclose any information contained in it, or

other than for the purposes of an election or referendum (as the case may be).

(5) Each person supplied with a copy of the record under this regulation must take proper precautions for its safe custody.

Supply of record of anonymous entries in connection with summoning of juries

45D

(1) Paragraph (2) applies to any person to whom a copy of the full register has been supplied or to whom information contained in it has been disclosed for the purpose of summoning juries, other than a designated officer within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Juries Act 1974.

(2) The registration officer must at the request in writing of a person to whom this paragraph applies supply to that person a copy of the record of anonymous entries.

(3) Paragraphs (4) and (5) apply to—

(a) each person who has been supplied with a copy of the record of anonymous entries in accordance with section 3(1A) of the Juries Act 1974;

(b) each person who has been supplied with a copy of the record in accordance with paragraph (2).

(4) No person to whom this paragraph applies may—

(a) supply a copy of the record,

(b) disclose any information contained in it, or

other than for the purpose of summoning juries.

(5) The persons to whom this paragraph applies must take proper precautions for the safe custody of the record.

Supply of record of anonymous entries to the security services

45E

(1) This regulation applies where the registration officer supplies a copy of the full register to—

(a) the Security Service;

(b) the Government Communications Headquarters;

(2) The registration officer must supply a copy of the record of anonymous entries together with the register.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supply of the record of anonymous entries to police forces and other organisations

45F

(1) The registration officer must supply a copy of the record of anonymous entries, at the request in writing of a senior officer, to—

(a) any police force in Great Britain,

(b) the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland (Reserve),

(c) so far as the record relates to an anonymous entry in a register of local government electors in Wales, the Police Information Technology Organisation,

(d) any body of constables established under an Act, or

(e) the Serious Organised Crime Agency.

(2) Senior officer means—

(a) in the case of the forces and organisations mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) to (d), an officer of a rank senior to that of superintendent;

(b) in the case of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Director General of that Agency.

(3) No person serving whether as a constable, officer or employee of any of the forces and organisations mentioned in paragraph (1) may—

(a) supply to any person a copy of the record,

(b) disclose any information contained in it, or

otherwise than for the purposes specified in paragraph (4).

(4) The purposes are—

(a) the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the criminal law (whether in England and Wales or elsewhere);

(b) the vetting of a relevant person for the purpose of safeguarding national security.

(5) Relevant person means—

(a) a constable or officer or prospective constable or officer of the force or organisation;

(b) an employee of, or applicant for employment by, the force or organisation.

(6) Each person supplied with a copy of the record under this regulation must take proper precautions for its safe custody.

Certificate of anonymous registration

45G

(1) Where a registration officer enters a person in the record of anonymous entries, he must issue to that person a certificate of anonymous registration.

(2) A certificate of anonymous registration must be in writing and signed by the registration officer.

(3) A certificate for anonymous registration must state—

(a) the name of the area for which the registration officer acts;

(b) the name, electoral number and qualifying address of the person who has the anonymous entry;

(d) that unless a fresh application for an anonymous entry is made, the entitlement to remain registered anonymously will terminate no later than at the end of the period of 12 months beginning with the date stated in accordance with sub-paragraph (c).

Certificate of anonymous registration prescribed for purposes of paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2A

45H

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors otherwise than on request

Supply of free copies of register and list of overseas electors on request

Sale of register and list of overseas electors

Supply of register and list of overseas electors in data form

Requirement to provide fresh signatures at five yearly intervals

60A

(A1) This regulation does not apply to an elector or proxy so far as that elector or proxy remains entitled to vote by post at a parliamentary election or at a local government election in England.

(1) Subject to paragraphs (1A) and (1C), the registration officer shall every year by 31 January send every person who remains an absent voter and whose signature held on the personal identifiers record is more than five years old a notice in writing—

(a) requiring him to provide a fresh signature, and

(b) informing him of the date (six weeks from the date of sending the notice) on which he would cease to be entitled to vote by post or by proxy in the event of a failure or refusal to provide a fresh signature.

(1A) Paragraph (1B) applies instead of paragraph (1) in respect of a person who—

(a) is registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, and

(b) remains entitled to vote by proxy.

(1B) Subject to paragraph (1C), the registration officer must, during the signature refresh period, send every person to whom this paragraph applies a notice in writing—

(a) requiring the person to provide a fresh signature, and

(b) informing the person that, in the event of a failure or refusal to provide a fresh signature before the end of the signature refresh period, the person would cease to be entitled to vote by proxy at the end of that period.

(1C) Paragraphs (1) and (1B) do not apply in respect of a person to whom paragraph (1A) applies whose current signature on the personal identifiers record was added to that record during the signature refresh period.

(1D) In paragraphs (1B) and (1C), the “signature refresh period” means the period—

(a) beginning with the 1st July immediately before the date in sub-paragraph (b), and

(b) ending with the 1st November on which the person’s registration will end in accordance with section 1D(1)(a) or (3)(a) of the 1985 Act.

(2) A notice under paragraph (1) or (1B) (“the notice”) must be sent by the registration officer to the current or last known address of the absent voter.

(3) The registration officer must, if the absent voter has not responded to the notice within three weeks from the date on which the notice was sent, as soon as practicable send a copy of the notice to him.

(4) Where a notice or copy of a notice is sent by post, the registration officer may use—

(a) a universal postal service provider; or

(b) a commercial delivery firm,

and postage shall be prepaid.

(5) A notice or copy of a notice sent to an absent voter ... must be accompanied by a pre-addressed reply envelope and, in the case of any notice or copy of a notice sent to an address in the United Kingdom, return postage must be prepaid.

(6) Upon the expiration of the period specified in the notice sent to the absent voter the registration officer shall determine whether the absent voter has failed or refused to provide a fresh signature.

(7) Where the registration officer determines that the absent voter has refused or failed to provide a fresh signature within the specified period, he must remove that person’s entry from the records kept pursuant to paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4 and from the postal voters list, list of proxies or proxy postal voters list (as the case may be) kept under paragraph 5(2), 5(3) or 7(8) of that Schedule.

(8) Where a registration officer removes an absent voter’s entry in the circumstances to which paragraph (7) refers—

(a) the registration officer shall inform the absent voter, where appropriate, of the location of the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to him under the appropriate rules (as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4);

(b) regulation 57(4) and regulation 58 shall apply as if the registration officer were refusing an application under Schedule 4; and

(c) in the case of an entry removed from the proxy postal voters list, the registration officer must also notify the elector who appointed the proxy whose entry has been removed.

(9) The registration officer shall include in the notice to be sent to an absent voter regarding their removal from the records kept pursuant to paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4 and from the postal voters list, list of proxies or proxy postal voters list (as the case may be) kept under paragraph 5(2), 5(3) or 7(8) of that Schedule, information—

(a) explaining the effect of such removal; and

(b) reminding the absent voter that he may make a fresh application under Schedule 4 to vote by post or by proxy (as the case may be).

Records and lists kept under Schedule 4

Conditions on the use, supply and inspection of absent voter records or lists

61A

The restrictions on the supply, disclosure and use of the full register in regulations 94 and 96 shall apply to information covered by regulations 61(1)(a) and (b), as they apply to the full register, except that the permitted purpose shall mean either—

(a) Article 84A GDPR purposes; or

(b) electoral purposes.

The personal identifiers record

61B

(1) The registration officer shall maintain a record (“the personal identifiers record”), apart from the other records and lists which he is required to keep under Schedule 4, of the signatures and dates of birth provided by persons whose applications under paragraph 3(1) or (2), paragraph 4(1) or (2) or paragraph 7(4)(a) or (b) of Schedule 4 were granted, until the expiry of twelve months from—

(a) the date on which a person is removed from the record kept pursuant to paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4; or

(b) the date of the poll for the purposes of which the person’s application for an absent vote was granted under paragraph 4(1) or (2) or 7(4)(b) of Schedule 4.

(2) The personal identifiers record shall contain the following information in respect of each absent voter on the postal voters list, list of proxies or proxy postal voters list—

(a) his name;

(b) his date of birth; and

(3) The registration officer may disclose information held in the personal identifiers records to—

(a) any candidate or agent attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, in accordance with and for the purposes referred to in regulation 85A;

(b) any person attending proceedings on receipt of postal ballot papers, who is entitled to do so by virtue of any of sections 6A to 6D of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, but only to the extent required to permit them to observe the proceedings.

Marked register for polling stations

Certificate of employment at a parliamentary election

Corresponding number lists

63A

(1) The form of the corresponding number list to be prepared by a returning officer under rule 19A of the rules in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act shall be in Form L1.

(2) The form of the corresponding number list to be prepared by a returning officer for the purposes of rules 29(3)(e) and 37(1)(b) and 37(1)(d) of the rules in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act shall be in Form L2.

(3) The form of the corresponding number list to be prepared by a returning officer under rule 19A of the rules in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act, when a parliamentary election is combined with another poll under section 15 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 or section 44 or 45 of the Local Government Act 2000 shall be in Form M1.

(4) The form of the corresponding number list to be prepared by a returning officer for the purposes of rules 29(3)(e) and 37(1)(b), and 37(1)(d) of the rules in Schedule 1 to the 1983 Act, when a parliamentary election is combined with another poll under section 15 of the Representation of the People Act 1985 or section 44 or 45 of the Local Government Act 2000 shall be in Form M2.

Form of postal voting statement

Sealing up of completed corresponding number lists and security of special lists

Confirming receipt of postal voting statements

84A

(1) An elector or a proxy voter who is shown in the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list may make a request, at any time between the first issue of postal ballots under regulation 71 and the close of the poll, that the returning officer confirm—

(a) whether a mark is shown in the marked copy of the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list in a place corresponding to the number of the elector to denote that a postal vote has been returned, and

(b) whether the number of the ballot paper issued to the elector or his proxy has been recorded on either of the lists of provisionally rejected votes kept by the returning officer under paragraphs (2) and (3) of regulation 87.

(2) A request under paragraph (1) shall—

(a) be made by any method specified, and

(b) include any evidence of the voter’s identity requested,

by the returning officer.

(3) Where a request is received in accordance with paragraph (2) the returning officer shall satisfy himself that the request has been made by the elector or their proxy and where he is so satisfied provide confirmation of the matters under paragraph (1).

Procedure in relation to declarations of identity

Procedure in relation to postal voting statements: personal identifier verification

85A

(1) This regulation applies in the circumstances described in regulation 84(2).

(2) The returning officer must satisfy himself that the postal voting statement is duly completed and as part of that process must compare the date of birth and the signature on the postal voting statement against the date of birth and signature contained in the personal identifier record relating to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed.

(3) Where the returning officer is not so satisfied, he shall mark the statement “rejected”, attach to it the ballot paper envelope, or if there is no such envelope but there is a ballot paper, the ballot paper, and, subject to paragraph (4), place it in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure).

(4) Before placing a postal voting statement in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), the returning officer must show it to the agents and must permit them to view the entries in the personal identifiers record which relate to the person to whom the postal ballot paper was addressed, and if any of them object to his decision, he must add the words “rejection objected to”.

(5) The returning officer shall then examine the number on the postal voting statement against the number on the ballot paper envelope and, where they are the same, he shall place the statement and the ballot paper envelope respectively in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure) and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes.

(6) Where—

(a) the number on a valid postal voting statement is not the same as the number on the ballot paper envelope, or

(b) that envelope has no number on it (or only one number when the postal voting statement has more than one),

the returning officer shall open the envelope.

(7) Paragraph (8) applies where—

(a) there is a valid postal voting statement but no ballot paper envelope; or

(b) the ballot paper envelope has been opened under regulation 84(3) or paragraph (6) above.

(8) In the circumstances described in paragraph (7) above, the returning officer shall place—

(a) in the postal ballot box, any ballot paper the number on which is the same as the number on the valid postal voting statement;

(b) in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any other ballot paper, with the valid postal voting statement attached and marked “provisionally rejected”‘

(c) in the receptacle for rejected votes (verification procedure), any valid postal voting statement marked “provisionally rejected” where—

(i) there is no ballot paper, or

(ii) in the case of a statement on which the number of more than one ballot paper appears, there is not a sufficient number of ballot papers and, in such a case, shall mark the statement to indicate which ballot paper is missing;

(d) in the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure), any valid statement not disposed of under sub-paragraph (b) or (c) above.

Postal Voting Statements: additional personal identifier verification

85B

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Opening of ballot paper envelopes

Retrieval of cancelled postal ballot papers

86A

(1) Where it appears to the returning officer that a cancelled postal ballot paper has been placed—

(a) in a postal voters’ ballot box;

(b) in the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes; or

he shall proceed as follows.

(2) He shall, on at least one occasion on which a postal voters ballot box is opened in accordance with regulation 83, also open any postal ballot box and the receptacle for ballot paper envelopes and—

(a) retrieve the cancelled ballot paper;

(b) show the ballot paper number on the cancelled ballot paper to the agents;

(c) retrieve the postal voting statement that relates to a cancelled ballot paper from the receptacle for postal voting statements (verification procedure);

(d) attach any cancelled postal ballot paper to the postal voting statement to which it relates;

(e) place the cancelled documents in a separate packet and deal with that packet in the manner provided for by regulation 77(6) or 78A(2); and

(f) unless the postal ballot box has been opened for the purposes of the counting of votes under rule 45 of the elections rules, re-lock (if it has a lock) and re-seal the postal ballot box in the presence of the agents.

(3) Whilst retrieving a cancelled ballot paper in accordance with paragraph (2), the returning officer and his staff—

(a) shall keep the ballot papers face downwards and shall take proper precautions for preventing any person seeing the votes made on the ballot papers, and

(b) shall not be permitted to view the corresponding number list used at the issue of postal ballot papers.

Lists of rejected postal ballot papers

Checking of lists kept under regulation 87

Sealing of receptacles

Abandoned poll

Forwarding of documents

PART7 — ACCESS TO MARKED REGISTERS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS OPEN TO PUBLIC INSPECTION AFTER AN ELECTION

Interpretation of Part 7

116

(1) In this Part references to the “marked register or lists” means any part of the marked copies of—

(a) the full register;

(aa) the notices amending the full register issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act;

(b) the postal voters list;

(d) the proxy postal voters list,

forwarded to the relevant registration officer under regulation 91 above or rule 55(1)(e) of the elections rules.

(2) For the purposes of this Part any period of days shall be calculated in accordance with regulation 56.

(3) Paragraphs (2) and (3), and the condition in paragraph (9), of regulation 92 shall be taken to apply to the supply and processing of information supplied under this Part as they apply to the supply and processing of the full register under Part 6 of these Regulations.

(4) Subject to any direction by the Secretary of State under section 52(1) of the 1983 Act, any duty on a relevant registration officer to supply records or lists or make them available for inspection under this Part imposes only a duty to provide that information in the form in which he holds it.

Supply of marked registers and lists after an election

117

(1) Any person entitled to be supplied in accordance with regulation 100, 103, 105, 106, 108, 109 or 113 above, with copies of the full register at a particular parliamentary or local government election, is also a person entitled, subject to this regulation and to regulation 119, to request that a relevant registration officer supply copies of the relevant part (within the meaning of those regulations) of the marked register or lists he is required to keep.

(2) A person whose entitlement to request copies of the marked register or lists under paragraph (1) arises from being in a category of persons covered by regulation 103, 105, 106 or 108 before a particular election, shall be entitled to request those documents regardless of whether he remains in a entitled category after that election for which the marked register or list was prepared.

(3) A request under paragraph (1) shall be made in writing and shall—

(a) specify which of the marked register or lists (or the relevant part of the register or lists) are requested;

(b) state whether a printed copy of the records or lists is requested or a copy in data form,

(c) state the purposes for which the marked register or lists will be used and why the supply or purchase of a copy of the full register or unmarked lists would not be sufficient to achieve that purpose.

(4) The relevant registration officer shall supply a copy of the relevant part of the marked register or lists where a request is duly made, and—

(a) he is satisfied that the requestor needs to see the marks on the marked register or lists in order to achieve the purpose for which it is requested, and

(b) he has received payment of a fee calculated in accordance with regulation 120 below.

(5) If the relevant registration officer is not satisfied in accordance with paragraph (4)(a) he may treat the request for a marked register or list as a request for information in unmarked lists under regulation 61 or for the published copy of the full register in accordance with regulation 102, or both.

(6) A person who obtains a copy of any part of a marked register or list under this regulation may use it only for the permitted purposes specified in paragraph (2) of regulation 119, and any conditions—

(a) specified in that paragraph, or

(b) which would apply to the use of the full register under whichever of regulations 100, 103, 105, 106, 108, 109 or 113 entitled that person to obtain that document,

shall apply to such use.

(7) The conditions in regulations 100(3), 103(3), 105(4), 106(3), 108(5) and 109(3) shall apply to a person to whom a marked register or list, or any information contained in it (that is not contained in the edited register) has been supplied or disclosed under those paragraphs as they apply to the person to whom those regulations apply.

(8) Any person who has obtained or is entitled to obtain a copy of the marked register or lists under this regulation may—

(a) supply a copy of the marked register or lists to a processor for the purpose of processing the information contained therein, or

(b) procure that a processor processes and supplies to them any copy of the information in the marked register or lists which the processor has obtained under this regulation,

for use in respect of the purposes for which that person is entitled to obtain such copy or information (as the case may be).

Inspection of documents open to public inspection

118

(1) Any person is entitled to request that the relevant registration officer make available for inspection a copy of any of the following documents (referred to in this regulation and in regulation 119 as “the documents open to public inspection”)—

(a) the marked register or lists;

(b) such other documents relating to an election as the relevant registration officer is required by or under any enactment to retain for any period except—

(i) ballot papers

(ii) completed corresponding number lists;

(iii) certificates as to employment on the day of the election;

(iv) the lists required to be compiled under regulation 87(4) and (6), and any extracts produced from those lists;

(v) return of postal voting documents forms.

(2) A request under paragraph (1) shall be made in writing and shall specify—

(a) which documents are requested;

(b) the purposes for which the information in any document will be used,

(c) where the request is to inspect the marked register or lists, any reason why inspecting the full register or unmarked lists would not be sufficient to achieve that purpose,

(d) who will inspect the documents,

(e) the date on which they wish to inspect the documents, and

(f) whether they would prefer to inspect the documents in a printed or data form.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the relevant registration officer shall make the documents open to public inspection available for inspection under supervision not later than 10 days after the date of receipt of a request that has been duly made.

(4) Where a request has been made to inspect copies of the marked register or lists under paragraph (2) and the relevant registration officer is not satisfied that the purposes of the requestor cannot be met by inspection of the full register, he shall inform the requestor—

(a) of his decision under this paragraph, and

(b) provide the requestor with information concerning the availability of the published full register for inspection in accordance with regulation 43.

(5) A person who obtains a copy of or information in any document open to public inspection under this regulation may use it only for the permitted purposes specified in regulation 119, and any conditions—

(a) specified in that regulation,

(b) specified in paragraph (7) below, or

(c) which would apply to the use of the full register under regulation 109 where such a person has obtained a copy of that document under paragraph (8),

shall apply to such use.

(6) Where inspection takes place by providing the records or lists on a computer screen or otherwise in data form, the relevant registration officer shall ensure that the manner in, and equipment on which that copy is provided do not permit any person consulting that copy to—

(a) search it by electronic means by reference to the name of any person; or

(b) copy or transmit any part of that copy by electronic, or any other means.

(7) Subject to paragraph (8) a person who inspects a copy of a document open to public inspection, whether a printed copy or in data form, may not—

(a) make copies of any part of it, or

(b) record any particulars in it,

except that a person who inspects a copy of the marked register or lists may make hand written notes.

(8) The relevant registration officer shall, on request, supply free of charge copies of any documents open to public inspection—

(a) to each of the departments mentioned in regulation 108A;

(b) to a person who has inspected those documents and who is entitled to be supplied with a copy of the marked register or lists by virtue of being a person to whom regulation 109 applies.

Conditions on the use, supply and disclosure of documents open to public inspection

119

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) the restrictions on the supply, disclosure and use of information in regulations 94 and 96 shall apply to the documents open to public inspection as they apply to the full register.

(2) Where a person—

(a) obtains copies of the information in the marked register or lists in accordance with regulation 117(1), or

(b) a person inspects information in accordance with regulation 118(1),

the permitted purpose shall mean either—

(i) Article 84A GDPR purposes; or

(ii) electoral purposes.

(3) Where a copy of any information was supplied in the circumstances to which regulation 118(8)(b) applies, the permitted purpose means the purposes set out in regulation 109(4).

Fees relating to the supply of marked registers and lists

120

(1) The fee to be paid in accordance with regulation 117(4)(b) by a person making a request for a copy of the whole or of any part of the marked register or lists is set out in paragraph (2).

(2) The fee shall be the sum of £10, plus for a copy—

(a) in printed form, £2 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) covered by the request; and

(b) in data form, £1 for each 1,000 entries (or remaining part of 1,000 entries) covered by the request.

(3) For the purposes of this regulation, a request for a copy of the whole or the same part of the marked register or lists in both a printed and data form may be treated as two separate requests.

Form E:

PROXY PAPER

Regulation 57(3)

Form E1 (proxy paper (parliamentary elections and local government elections in England))

First page

Final page

Form F : Certificate of employment

Regulation 63(1)

Form G: postal voting statement for use at a parliamentary election taken alone

Front of form

Regulation 66(a)

Rear of form

PART 8 — Access to documents after an election to Senedd Cymru

Interpretation of Part 8

121

(1) In this Part—

“the 2025 Order” means the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025;

“relevant Senedd election documents” means the documents relating to a Senedd election that the relevant registration officer is required to retain by rule 70 of Schedule 5 to the 2025 Order;

“Senedd Cymru” means the parliament for Wales established by section 1 of the Government of Wales Act 2006;

“Senedd election” means an election to Senedd Cymru under Part 1 of the Government of Wales Act 2006;

“the Senedd list of proxies” means the list kept under article 8(1)(b) and (3) of the 2025 Order;

“the Senedd postal voters list” means the list kept under article 8(1)(a) and (2) of the 2025 Order;

“the Senedd proxy postal voters list” means the list kept under article 10(8) of the 2025 Order.

(2) References in this Part to “the marked Senedd register or lists” are to any part of the marked copies of—

(a) the full register;

(b) the notices amending the full register issued under section 13B(3B) or (3D) of the 1983 Act;

(d) the Senedd list of proxies;

(e) the Senedd proxy postal voters list,

forwarded to the relevant registration officer under paragraph 30 of Schedule 2 or rule 67(2)(h) and (i) of Schedule 5 to the 2025 Order.

122

Subject to the modifications specified in regulations 123 to 126, Part 7 of these Regulations applies in respect of the marked Senedd register or lists and the other relevant Senedd election documents as it applies in respect of the marked register or lists and other documents open to inspection under that Part.

123

References in Part 7 to “the marked register or lists” are to be construed as references to the marked Senedd register or lists, and any like terms are to be similarly construed.

124

Regulation 116 applies as if—

(a) paragraph (1) were omitted,

(b) in paragraph (2), the reference to regulation 56 were a reference to paragraph 11 of Schedule 1 to the 2025 Order, and

(c) in paragraph (4), the reference to a direction by the Secretary of State under section 52(1) of the 1983 Act includes a reference to a direction by the Welsh Ministers under section 52(1) of the 1983 Act.

125

Regulation 117 applies as if—

(a) references to “a particular parliamentary or local government election” and to “a particular election” include reference to a particular Senedd election, and

(b) the reference in paragraph (5) to regulation 61 were a reference to paragraph 18 of Schedule 1 to the 2025 Order.

126

Regulations 118 and 119 apply as if references to “documents open to public inspection” were a reference to—

(a) the marked Senedd register or lists, and

(b) the other relevant Senedd election documents except—

(i) ballot papers,

(ii) completed corresponding number lists,

(iii) certificates as to employment on the day of the election, and

(iv) the list required to be compiled under paragraph 26(4) of Schedule 2 to the 2025 Order,

and any like terms are to be construed accordingly.

Calculating the fee for supply of marked registers or lists

Supply of full register etc to the security services

108A

(1) This regulation applies to—

(a) the Security Service;

(b) the Government Communications Headquarters;

(2) For the purposes of regulation 102(1) above the relevant part of the documents listed in that provision is the whole of them.

Supply of full register etc to police forces and other agencies, and restrictions on use

Supply of full register to public libraries and local authority archives service, and restrictions on use

SCHEDULE 4A

1Regulation applied	2Modification
Regulation 3	In paragraph (1) omit the definition of “certificate of anonymous registration”.
Regulation 5
Regulation 6
Regulation 7
Regulation 8
Regulation 11
Regulation 18	In paragraphs (4), (5) and (7) after “regulation 13(6) above” insert “and Schedule 4A to these Regulations” and for “modifications made by that regulation” substitute “modifications made by that Schedule”.
Regulation 19	In paragraph (1) after “regulation 13(6) above” insert “and Schedule 4A to these Regulations” and for “modifications made by that regulation” substitute “modifications made by that Schedule”.
Regulation 20	In paragraph (1) after “regulation 13(6) above” insert “and Schedule 4A to these Regulations” and for “modifications made by that regulation” substitute “modifications made by that Schedule”.
Regulation 21
Regulation 22	In paragraph (3) after “regulation 13(6) above” insert “and Schedule 4A to these Regulations” and for “modifications made by that regulation” substitute “modifications made by that Schedule”.
Regulation 23
Regulation 24	Omit paragraph (4A).
Regulation 25
Regulation 27
Regulation 28	Omit paragraph (2).
Regulation 29	Omit paragraphs (2B) and (4A).In paragraph (4) omit “Subject to paragraph (4A),”.
Regulation 30
Regulation 31
Regulation 31A
Regulation 31B	In paragraph (1) for “regulations 31C to 31F” substitute “regulations 31D to 31F”.For paragraph (2) substitute:2The functions specified in this paragraph are determining under section 2(2)(aa) of the 1985 Act whether a person was entitled to be registered..
Regulation 31D	Omit paragraph (3).In paragraphs (5) and (8) omit “or, as the case may be, has ceased to satisfy the conditions for registration set out in section 4 of the 1983 Act.”.
Regulation 31E	In paragraph (2) omit sub-paragraph (c).Omit paragraph (4).
Regulation 31F	In paragraph (6) omit “or, as the case may be, has ceased to satisfy the conditions for registration set out in section 4 of the 1983 Act,”.
Regulation 32	In paragraph (1) for sub-paragraph (b) substitute:bunder section 56(1)(aa) of the 1983 Act, from the decision of a registration officer made in accordance with regulations 31D to 31F that a person was not entitled to be registered;.In paragraph (1) omit sub-paragraph (c).
Regulation 36(2) and (3)	In sub-paragraph (2)(b) omit “except in a case falling within regulation 31C(2)(d) above,”.
Regulation 38
Regulation 39
Regulation 40	For paragraph (1) substitute:1Section 9(2)(b) of the 1983 Act (which requires each register of parliamentary or local government electors to contain the qualifying addresses of the persons registered in it) does not apply to an address which is specified in an overseas elector’s declaration in accordance with section 2(4)(b) or (c)(ii) of the 1985 Act..Omit paragraphs (2) and (3).
Regulation 41
Regulation 42
Regulation 43	In paragraph (1) omit “and (3)”.
Regulation 45	In paragraph (4) after “regulation 13(6) above” insert “and Schedule 4A to these Regulations”.

Additional requirements for application for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular election : grounds relating to occupation, service or employment

55A

(1) This regulation sets out the requirements referred to in regulation 55(3A).

(2) The application must (in addition to providing the information required by regulation 55(1)) state—

(a) where the applicant is self-employed, that fact; and, in any other case, the name of the applicant’s employer;

(b) that the reason provided in accordance with regulation 55(1) relates to the applicant’s occupation, service or employment; and

(3) Paragraphs (4), (5) and (6) apply unless the applicant is or will be registered as a service voter.

(4) The application must be attested and signed—

(a) where the applicant is self-employed, by a person who—

(i) is aged 18 years or over;

(ii) knows the applicant; and

(iii) is not related to the applicant;

(b) where the applicant is not self-employed, by the applicant’s employer or by another employee to whom this function is delegated by the employer.

(5) The person attesting an application under paragraph (4) (the “attestor”) must certify that the statements required by paragraph (2) and the information required by regulation 55(1) are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.

(6) The attestor shall also state—

(a) the attestor’s name and address; and

(b) if the attestor is attesting—

(i) where the applicant is self-employed, that the attestor is aged 18 years or over and that the attestor knows, but is not related to, the applicant; or

(ii) as or on behalf of the employer of the applicant, that the attestor is the employer, or the position the attestor holds in the employment of that employer.

(7) For the purposes of this regulation, one person (‘A’) is related to another (‘B’) if A is the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of B.

Closing date for applications

Grant or refusal of applications

Notice of appeal

Cancellation of proxy appointment

Inquiries by registration officer

Requirement to provide fresh signatures at five yearly intervals

Requirement to provide fresh signatures following rejection of a postal voting statement

60B

(1) Where an absent voter is notified under regulation 61C that the signature does not match the example held on the personal identifiers record, and the absent voter continues to be shown on the relevant record as voting by post, the registration officer may require the absent voter to provide a fresh signature for the personal identifiers record.

(2) In doing so the registration officer must—

(a) issue a notice in writing to the absent voter, requiring the provision of a fresh signature, and

(b) inform the absent voter of the date (six weeks from the sending of the notice) on which the absent voter would cease to be entitled to vote by post in the event of a failure or refusal to provide a fresh signature.

(3) The registration officer must, if the absent voter has not responded to the notice within three weeks from the date on which the notice was sent, as soon as practicable send a copy of the notice to the absent voter.

(4) The notice and any copy must be sent by the registration officer to the current or last known address of the absent voter.

(5) Where a notice or copy of a notice is sent by post, the registration officer may use—

(a) a universal postal service provider; or

(b) a commercial delivery firm,

and postage shall be prepaid.

(6) A notice or copy of a notice sent to an absent voter in accordance with paragraph (2) or (3) must be accompanied by a pre-addressed reply envelope and, in the case of any notice or copy of a notice sent to an address in the United Kingdom, return postage must be prepaid.

(7) Following the date specified in the notice sent to the absent voter, the registration officer must determine whether the absent voter has failed or refused to provide a fresh signature.

(8) Where the registration officer determines that the absent voter has refused or failed to provide a fresh signature, the registration officer must remove that person’s entry from the records kept pursuant to paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4 and from the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list (as the case may be) kept under paragraph 5(2) or 7(8) of that Schedule.

(9) Where a registration officer removes an absent voter’s entry in the circumstances to which paragraph (8) refers—

(a) the registration officer shall inform the absent voter, where appropriate, of the location of the polling station allotted or likely to be allotted to the voter under the appropriate rules (as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4);

(b) regulation 57(4) and regulation 58 shall apply as if the registration officer were refusing an application under Schedule 4; and

(c) in the case of an entry removed from the proxy postal voters list, the registration officer must also notify the elector who appointed the proxy whose entry has been removed.

(10) The registration officer shall include in the notice to be sent to an absent voter regarding their removal from the records kept pursuant to paragraph 3(4) or 7(6) of Schedule 4 and from the postal voters list or proxy postal voters list (as the case may be) kept under paragraph 5(2) or 7(8) of that Schedule, information—

(a) explaining the effect of such removal; and

(b) reminding the absent voter that they may make a fresh application under Schedule 4 to vote by post or by proxy (as the case may be).

(11) Where an absent voter has provided a registration officer with a fresh signature in response to a notice issued by the registration officer under this paragraph, or in response to a notice issued by the registration officer under any other enactment following the rejection of the absent voter’s postal voting statement at an election or referendum, the registration officer may use that signature and enter it in the records kept in accordance with regulation 61B and paragraphs 3(9), 4(6) and 7(12) of Schedule 4.

Records and lists kept under Schedule 4

Conditions on the use, supply and inspection of absent voter records or lists

The personal identifiers record

Notification of a rejected postal voting statement

61C

(1) Where an absent voter (whether an elector or a proxy), appears on the list created under regulation 87(4) , or on the list created under regulation 87(6) with an indication in accordance with regulation 87(6)(d) that a postal ballot paper was included in rejected postal voting documents, then—

(a) the registration officer responsible for the personal identifiers record that contains information in respect of the absent voter must notify them (and the elector if the absent voter is a proxy) that the ballot paper concerned was rejected because—

(i) the returning officer was not satisfied that the postal voting statement was duly completed;

(ii) the postal ballot paper was handed in at a polling station or for the returning officer, and the relevant officer—

(aa) was not satisfied that the return of postal voting documents form had been completed properly and provided the required information,

(bb) suspected that the person handing it in had handed in postal ballot papers on behalf of more than the permitted number of electors, or

(cc) suspected that the person handing it in was a political campaigner who was committing an offence under section 112A of the 1983 Act;

(iii) the postal ballot paper was a left behind postal voting document;

(b) the registration officer must send the notification within the period of three months beginning with the date of the poll at which the ballot paper was rejected; and

(i) in regulation 87(5) applied to the absent voter’s postal voting statement;

(ii) in regulation 87(7) applied to the absent voter’s postal ballot paper.

(2) The registration officer is not obliged to send a notification—

(a) to any person who is no longer shown as voting by post in the relevant record at the time the registration officer proposes to send out the notification, or

(b) where the returning officer suspects that an offence may have been committed in relation to the postal ballot paper, postal voting statement or the absent voter’s registration as an elector except where that offence is committed by a political campaigner under section 112A of the 1983 Act.

(3) A notification issued under paragraph (1) may also include any other information that the registration officer considers appropriate, but a notification must not include information held on the personal identifiers record.

Marked register for polling stations

Certificate of employment at a parliamentary election

Corresponding number lists

Cancellation of postal ballot papers

78A

(1) Where, after the final nomination day at a parliamentary or local government election, an application under—

(a) paragraph 3(5)(a) of Schedule 4 to the 2000 Act (application to be removed from record of absent voters),

(b) paragraph 3(6) or 4(3)(b) of that Schedule (application to vote by proxy by a person recorded as voting by post),

(d) paragraph 4(3)(a) of that Schedule (application for postal ballot paper to be sent to different address),

(e) paragraph 6(7) or (8) of that Schedule (appointment of proxy),

(f) paragraph 7(7) of that Schedule (application from postal proxy voter for postal ballot paper to be sent to a different address), or

(g) paragraph 7(9)(a) of that Schedule (application by proxy to be removed from record of postal proxies),

is granted or a notice under paragraph 6(10) of that Schedule (cancellation of proxy appointment) is received, and the application or notice is not to be disregarded for the purposes of that election under regulation 56, the registration officer must notify the returning officer who must immediately cancel any postal ballot paper issued to the elector or proxy and, in the case of an application mentioned in sub-paragraph (d) or (f), must issue a replacement ballot paper.

(2) Where a person returns a postal ballot paper that has been or is to be cancelled in accordance with paragraph (1) (whether to the registration officer or the returning officer), it must be dealt with as follows—

(a) the ballot paper, together with any other ballot papers, postal voting statements or covering envelopes which are returned to the registration officer, must be given by the registration officer to the returning officer;

(b) any document returned in accordance with this paragraph but not cancelled in accordance with paragraph (1) must be immediately cancelled;

(c) the returning officer, as soon as practicable after receiving and cancelling those documents, shall make up those documents in a separate packet and shall seal the packet, and if on any subsequent occasion documents are returned in accordance with this paragraph, the sealed packet shall be opened and the additional cancelled documents included in it and the packet shall be again made up and sealed.

(3) The returning officer must enter in a list kept for the purpose of recording postal ballot papers cancelled under this regulation (“the list of cancelled postal ballot papers”)—

(a) the name and number of the elector as stated in the register of electors (or, in the case of an elector who has an anonymous entry, their electoral number alone);

(b) the number of the cancelled postal ballot paper;

(d) where the postal voter is a proxy, their name and address.

(4) Regulations 72 (except paragraph (3)), 74, 75 and 76 apply to a replacement postal ballot paper issued under paragraph (1).

(5) In this regulation “the final nomination day” has the meaning given by section 13B(5) of the 1983 Act.

Form H: postal voting statement for use when postal ballots are combined

Front of form

Rear of form

Form J: postal voting statement for use when a parliamentary poll is combined with another poll but the postal ballots are not combined

Front of form

Regulation 66(c)

Rear of form

Form K:

STATEMENT AS TO POSTAL BALLOT PAPERS

Form K1: statement as to postal ballot papers for parliamentary elections and local government elections in England

First page

Second page

Disclosure of certain local authorities’ records

35A

(1) A local authority listed in paragraph (2) may disclose to a registration officer information contained in records held by that authority, for any of the purposes mentioned in paragraph 1A(1) of Schedule 2 to the 1983 Act except for the purpose of verifying information related to a person named in a relevant absent voting application.

(2) The authorities are—

(a) the authority by which the registration officer was appointed; and

(b) where the council by which the registration officer was appointed is a council for a district in a county for which there is a county council, that county council.

(3) A disclosure under paragraph (1) may be made only in accordance with a written agreement between the authority and the registration officer regulating the processing of the information, including its transfer, storage, destruction and security.

(4) Where an authority refuses a request by a registration officer to disclose information under paragraph (1) it must give the registration officer written reasons for its refusal.

Notices in connection with registration

Communication of notices made on polling day

Notice by registration officer of a change of address

Application for alteration of register in respect of name under section 10ZD

26A

(1) An application for alteration in respect of name under section 10ZD of the 1983 Act must be in writing and must state—

(a) the applicant’s full name;

(b) the full name in respect of which the applicant is currently registered;

(d) the address in respect of which the applicant is registered;

(e) a declaration by the applicant that the information provided in the application is true;

(f) the date of the application.

(2) The Electoral Commission must design a form for applications for alteration in respect of name under section 10ZD of the 1983 Act, which requires the information in paragraph (1) and includes—

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