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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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(a) a statement that the information provided in the application will be processed in accordance with the data protection legislation and as to what information will appear on the electoral register;

(b) space for a bar code, local authority reference number and security code unique to each form; and

(c) space for the registration officer to include local authority information and details of how the registration officer may be contacted.

(3) The Electoral Commission must obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to the design of the application form under paragraph (2) and must then make the form available to registration officers.

(3A) Before giving approval under paragraph (3), the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(4) A person making an application for alteration in respect of name under paragraph (1) must give to the registration officer as part of their application documentary evidence of the applicant’s change of name.

(5) Where a person is unable to provide any documentary evidence, they must provide their date of birth and national insurance number as part of their application or, if they are not able to provide their date of birth or national insurance number, the reason why they are not able to do so.

(6) Where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the officer may require that the applicant provide the original of any copy document provided under paragraph (4) after the application has been made.

Power to request additional evidence where certain information is unavailable or where the registration officer considers it necessary

26B

(1) Subject to paragraph (1A), this regulation applies where a registration officer considers additional evidence is necessary to verify the identity of a person or determine their entitlement to register in respect of their application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act, including where that is necessary because the person is not able to state the information required by any of sub-paragraphs (e), (f) or (g) of regulation 26(1).

(1A) Where a person has made an application to be registered as an overseas elector under section 10ZC of the 1983 Act, this regulation only applies to the extent that a registration officer considers that additional evidence is necessary to verify the identity of the applicant (see regulations 24A and 26C to 26H for further provision in relation to overseas electors).

(2) The registration officer may require that the applicant give them a copy, or where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the original, of one of the following documents—

(a) the applicant’s passport;

(b) the applicant’s identity card issued in the European Economic Area;

(c) the applicant’s biometric immigration document issued in the United Kingdom in accordance with regulations made under section 5 of the Borders Act 2007;

(d) the applicant’s electoral identity card issued in Northern Ireland; or

(e) the applicant’s photocard driving licence granted in the United Kingdom or driving licence granted by a Crown Dependency, which bears a photograph of the applicant.

(3) Where an applicant is not able to give one of the documents in paragraph (2), the registration officer may require that the applicant give them a copy, or where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the original, of—

(a) one of the following documents, which, except in relation to paragraph (vii), must have been issued in the United Kingdom or Crown Dependencies—

(i) the applicant’s birth certificate;

(ii) the applicant’s marriage or civil partnership certificate;

(iii) the applicant’s adoption certificate;

(iv) the applicant’s firearms certificate granted under the Firearms Act 1968;

(v) the record of a decision on bail made in respect of the applicant in accordance with section 5(1) of the Bail Act 1976;

(vi) the applicant’s driving licence, which is not in the form of a photocard; or

(vii) the applicant’s driving licence granted other than in the United Kingdom or Crown Dependencies, which bears a photograph of the applicant and which must be valid for at least 12 months from the date the applicant entered the United Kingdom; and

(b) two other documents, each of which may be either from sub-paragraph (a) or from paragraph (4).

(4) Where the applicant is not able to give documents in accordance with paragraph (3), the registration officer may require that the applicant give them a copy, or where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the original, of four documents, each of which may be any of the following kinds of evidence and which must bear the applicant’s full name—

(a) a financial statement, including but not limited to—

(i) a mortgage statement;

(ii) a bank or building society statement or a letter from a bank or building society confirming that the applicant has opened an account with that bank or building society;

(iii) a credit card statement;

(iv) a pension statement;

(b) a council tax demand letter or statement;

(d) a Form P45 or Form P60 issued to the applicant by their employer or former employer;

(e) a statement of benefits or entitlement to benefits, such as a statement of child benefit, within the meaning of section 141 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, or a letter confirming that the applicant is entitled to housing benefit, within the meaning of section 130 of that Act.

(4A) Where an application is made in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration—

(a) paragraph (3) applies as if, in sub-paragraph (a)(vii), the words from “and which must” to “Kingdom” were omitted;

(b) paragraph (4) applies as if after “kinds of evidence” there were inserted “, must have been issued in the United Kingdom or Crown Dependencies”.

(5) If an applicant is unable to give the documentary evidence required under paragraphs (2) to (4), the registration officer may —

(a) except where sub-paragraph (b) applies, require the applicant give an attestation as set out in paragraph (6);

(b) where the application is made in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, require the applicant give an attestation as set out in paragraph (6ZA).

(6) An attestation must—

(a) confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application;

(b) state that the person signing the attestation is aware of the penalty for providing false information to a registration officer;

(i) whom the registration officer is satisfied is of good standing in the community;

(ii) who is registered as an elector in a local authority area in England or Wales;

(iii) who is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the applicant; ...

(iv) in relation to an application for registration as a local government elector in Wales who has not already signed attestations under this regulation for two applicants since, whichever is the later,—

(aa) the date on which the revised register in which that person’s name appears was last published under section 13(1) of the 1983 Act; or

(bb) the date on which a notice specifying that person’s entry in the register was issued under (as the case may be) section 13A(2), 13AB(2), 13B or 13BC of that Act (and if there has been more than one such notice, the date on which the last one was issued) ; and

(v) in relation to any other application for registration to which this paragraph applies, who has not already signed a relevant identity attestation for two other applicants since, whichever is the later,—

(aa) the date on which the revised register in which the attestor’s name appears was last published under section 13(1) of the 1983 Act, or

(bb) the date on which a notice specifying the attestor’s entry in the register was issued under (as the case may be) section 13A(2), 13AB(2), 13B or 13BC of that Act (and if there has been more than one such notice, the date on which the last one was issued);

(d) state the full name, date of birth, address, electoral number and occupation of the person signing the attestation; and

(e) state the date on which it is made.

(6ZA) An attestation under this paragraph must—

(a) confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application,

(b) be in writing and signed by a qualifying attestor,

(c) state the qualifying attestor’s full name, date of birth, occupation, residential address and (if different) the address in respect of which the qualifying attestor is registered as an elector,

(d) state—

(i) where the qualifying attestor is registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, the attestor’s British or Irish passport number together with its date and place of issue;

(ii) otherwise—

(aa) where the qualifying attestor is registered in respect of an address in Northern Ireland and has been allocated a digital registration number in accordance with section 10B of the 1983 Act (register of electors in Northern Ireland: digital registration number), that digital registration number,

(bb) in all other cases, the qualifying attestor’s electoral number,

(e) include an explanation as to the qualifying attestor’s ability to confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application, including (but not limited to) the qualifying attestor’s connection to the applicant and the length of time that that connection has existed,

(f) include—

(i) an indication that the qualifying attestor is aware of section 13D(1) of the 1983 Act (offence of provision of false information to a registration officer), and

(ii) a declaration by the qualifying attestor that all information provided in the attestation is true, and

(g) state the date on which it is made.

(6ZB) In paragraph (6ZA), a “qualifying attestor” is a person—

(a) who is aged 18 or over,

(b) who is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the applicant,

(d) except where the person is registered in pursuance of an overseas elector’s declaration, whom the registration officer is satisfied is of good standing in the community, and

(e) who has not already signed a relevant identity attestation for two other applicants since, whichever is the later,—

(i) the date on which the revised register in which the attestor’s name appears was last published under section 13(1) of the 1983 Act, or

(ii) the date on which a notice specifying the attestor’s entry in the register was issued under (as the case may be) section 13A(2), 13AB(2), 13B or 13BC of that Act (and if there has been more than one such notice, the date on which the last one was issued).

(6ZC) In paragraphs (6)(c)(v) and (6ZB)(e), a relevant identity attestation is an attestation provided in accordance with—

(a) paragraph (6) or (6ZA);

(b) regulation 56C(5A) or (6);

(ca) regulation 25A(3) of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008;

(d) paragraph 16C(5) of Schedule 2 to the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012;

(e) regulation 72B(5A) or (6) of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 2016;

(f) regulation 7(6) of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022.

(6A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, paragraphs (2) to (6) do not apply in the case where the applicant is under the age of 16 if—

(a) there is information available to the registration officer from any educational record relating to the applicant, and

(b) that information is sufficient to satisfy the registration officer as to the applicant's identity and entitlement to be registered.

(7) Paragraphs (2) to (6A) do not apply where the application is made pursuant to the following declarations—

(a) a service declaration on the grounds that the applicant is a Crown servant (within the meaning of regulation 14) or the spouse or civil partner of a Crown servant (within the meaning of regulation 14);

(b) a service declaration on the grounds that the applicant is a member of the forces (within the meaning of section 59(1) of the 1983 Act);

(c) a service declaration on the grounds that the applicant is the spouse or civil partner of a member of the forces (within the meaning of section 59(1) of the 1983 Act);

(ca) in relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a service declaration on the grounds that the applicant has a service qualification under section 14(1A) of the 1983 Act; or

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(8) In the case of an application in pursuance of a declaration within paragraph (7)(a) or (c), the registration officer may require that the applicant give them a copy, or where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the original, of one of the following documents, which has been certified by a Crown servant (within the meaning of regulation 14) or British Council employee or an officer of the forces (within the meaning of section 59(1) of the 1983 Act) who is not the applicant’s spouse or civil partner—

(a) the applicant’s passport; or

(b) the applicant’s identity card issued in the European Economic Area.

(9) In the case of an application in pursuance of a declaration within paragraph (7)(b), the registration officer may require that the applicant give an attestation which must—

(a) confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application;

(b) be in writing and signed by an officer of the forces (within the meaning of section 59(1) of the 1983 Act) who is not the spouse, civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild of the applicant;

(c) state the full name, address and rank of the person signing the attestation and the service (whether naval, military or air forces) in which they serve; and

(d) state the date on which it is made.

(9A) In the case of an application in pursuance of a service declaration within paragraph (7)(ca), the registration officer may require that the applicant give the officer one of the following documents or a copy of one of them certified by a relevant official—

(a) the applicant's passport, or

(b) the applicant's identity card issued in the European Economic Area.

(9B) In paragraph (9A), “relevant official” means—

(a) a Crown Servant (within the meaning of regulation 14),

(b) a British Council employee, or

who is not the applicant's parent, guardian, spouse or civil partner.

(10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in England, where a registration officer considers that additional evidence is necessary in order to determine whether the applicant is a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights, the registration officer may require that the applicant provide them with one or both of the following—

(a) information enabling the registration officer to verify the applicant’s current or historical immigration status by electronic means, or

(b) a letter or document issued by the Home Office which indicates the current or historical immigration status of the applicant.

(10B) Where a registration officer has requested additional evidence under paragraph (10A) to determine whether a relevant EU applicant is an EU citizen with retained rights and either—

(a) the applicant is not able to provide the requested information, or

(b) otherwise, the registration officer considers it appropriate,

the registration officer may request a statement of eligibility from the applicant.

(10C) A statement of eligibility under paragraph (10B) must be in writing and—

(a) must include—

(i) the applicant’s full name, date of birth, and the address in respect of which the applicant applies to be registered,

(ii) the applicant’s full name as at IP completion day and, if different from the name provided under paragraph (i), an explanation for that difference,

(iii) confirmation that the applicant is aware that it is an offence to provide false information to the registration officer, and of the maximum penalty for that offence, and

(iv) the date on which it was made;

(b) must, where required by the registration officer, also include any or all of the following—

(i) the date on which the applicant initially resided in the United Kingdom,

(ii) the nationality of the applicant as at IP completion day,

(iii) the immigration status held by the applicant as at IP completion day,

(iv) the applicant’s current immigration status,

(v) details of any other forms of immigration status held by the applicant since IP completion day,

(vi) details of any addresses in the United Kingdom at which the applicant has resided since IP completion day, and

(c) may include any other information or be accompanied by any documentary evidence relating to the applicant’s status as an EU citizen with retained rights.

(11) Where a registration officer considers that additional evidence is necessary in order to determine whether the applicant is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, the registration officer may require that the applicant provide evidence relating to the applicant’s immigration status, including, if applicable, the applicant’s biometric immigration document issued in the United Kingdom.

(12) In this regulation—

(a) “Crown Dependency” means the Bailiwick of Jersey, the Bailiwick of Guernsey or the Isle of Man;

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Objections to registration

Inspection of applications and objections

Verification of information provided in an application

29ZA

(1) On receipt of an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act made otherwise than through the digital service, a registration officer must disclose the name or names, date of birth and national insurance number given under regulation 26 or 26A to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in such a format and through such a conduit system as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may have notified to the registration officer in writing.

(2) Following receipt of the information from the registration officer or (in the case of an application made through the digital service) from the applicant, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose the information to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

(3) Where information has been disclosed to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may compare it against—

(a) the name, date of birth and national insurance number of individuals appearing in the following types of databases kept by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions—

(i) databases kept for the purposes of functions relating to social security (including such information kept on behalf of the Department for Social Development); and

(ii) databases relating to working tax credit, child tax credit and child benefit (being information kept on behalf of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs); and

(b) any other information contained in those databases which relates to the information disclosed under paragraph (2).

(4) The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may disclose the results of the comparison to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

(5) On receipt of such results, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose them to the registration officer in whose register the applicant has applied to be registered.

(6) Where the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government does so, the registration officer must take the results into account in determining the application.

(6ZA) In relation to the registration of parliamentary electors, this regulation does not apply to an application for registration under section 10ZC of the 1983 Act made pursuant to an overseas elector’s declaration.

(6A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, this regulation does not apply to an application made by a person under the age of 16.

(7) In this regulation—

(a) “conduit system” has the same meaning as in paragraph 1 of Schedule 2 to the Telecommunications Act 1984;

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Processing of information provided in connection with an application under section 10ZC or 10ZD

29ZB

(1) If a person provides an original document under regulation 26A(4), 26B(2) to (4) or 26B(8), 26C(5), 26D(2), 26F(2)(a) or (4), 26G(3)(a) or 26J(3), the registration officer must make a copy of that document and return the original document to the person who provided it.

(2) In respect of any application under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act, the registration officer must retain until the application has been determined—

(a) the application form or, in the case of an application made through the digital service, the information contained in the application transmitted to the registration officer by the Secretary of State;

(b) any other information or documents provided to the registration officer in connection with the application or, in the case of original documents which are returned under paragraph (1), a copy of such documents.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the registration officer may retain the application form, information and documents in paragraph (2) after the application has been determined but, if they do so, must delete the applicant’s national insurance number from the application form, information and documents in paragraph (2) by no later than the date which is 13 months from the date on which the registration officer determined the application under section 10ZC or 10ZD.

(4) The requirement to delete the national insurance number in paragraph (3) does not apply where the application, information and documents in paragraph (2) are required for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings.

(5) Information disclosed under regulation 29ZA , 29ZAA or 29ZAB may not be disclosed to any other person, except—

(a) for the purpose of determining the application in connection with which the information was disclosed; ...

(aa) in the case of information disclosed under regulation 29ZA or 29ZAA, for the purposes of determining—

(i) a relevant absent voting application made by the same applicant where that information is used by the Secretary of State to complete in part the relevant absent voting application by virtue of regulation 51(7)(a),

(ii) an application for an absent vote made under Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Order 2012 by the same applicant where that information is used by the Secretary of State to complete in part that application by virtue of paragraph 11(5A)(a) of Schedule 2 to that Order,

(iii) an application for absent signing made under Part 4 of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 2016 by the same applicant where that information is used by the Secretary of State to complete in part that application by virtue of regulation 60(6A)(a) of those Regulations, or

(iv) an identity document application, as defined by regulation 3(1) of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022, made by the same applicant where that information is used by the Secretary of State to complete in part that application by virtue of regulation 5(2) of those Regulations, or

(b) for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings.

(6) A person who discloses information in breach of paragraph (5) is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.

(7) Any person who discloses information under regulation 29ZA , 29ZAA or 29ZAB must process it in accordance with any requirements as to the processing of information that may have been imposed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in writing, including requirements as to the transfer, storage, destruction and security of that information.

(8) Any requirements, in accordance with which a person must process information, must be imposed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government before a registration officer is required to disclose that information under regulation 29ZA(1) , 29ZAA(2) or 29ZAB(2).

(9) “Copy” in this regulation includes an electronic copy.

Procedure for determining applications for registration and objections without a hearing

Notice of hearing

Hearing of applications and objections

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

Other determinations by registration officer of entitlement to registration

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

Procedure for reviewing entitlement to registration

List of reviews

Hearings of reviews

Determinations of entitlement to remain registered during the annual canvass

31FA

(1) If a registration officer is required by section 10ZE(5)(b) of the 1983 Act to consider making a determination under section 10ZE(1) of that Act as a result of information received in response to the canvass conducted under section 9D of that Act, the registration officer must so far as reasonably practicable take any relevant steps under regulations 31D to 31FZA so as to enable the relevant determination to be made , and the subject of the review to be notified of the determination, before the registration officer publishes a revised version of the register under section 13(1)(a) of the 1983 Act.

(2) This regulation does not apply where under regulation 31C(2)(c)(iii) a registration officer has received information as a result of the annual canvass which allows the registration officer to determine that the elector has died.

Anonymous registration: applications and declarations

Anonymous registration: determination of applications by registration officer

Anonymous registration: evidence consisting of relevant court orders or injunctions

Anonymous registration: evidence by attestation

Registration appeals

Annual canvass

32ZA

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

Steps to be taken by a registration officer where no information in response to an annual canvass form is received in respect of a particular address

32ZB

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

Invitations to apply for registration

32ZC

(1) The Electoral Commission must—

(a) design an invitation to apply for registration;

(b) obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to the invitation; and

(1A) Before giving the approval referred to in paragraph (1)(b), the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(2) The invitation in paragraph (1) must include—

(a) the full name and address of the person to be invited;

(b) an explanation of how to make an application for registration; ...

(c) a statement as to the circumstances in which a civil penalty may be imposed under section 9E of the 1983 Act, and the amount of the civil penalty; and

(d) the website address of the digital service.

(2A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, where the person to be invited is under the age of 16, the invitation in paragraph (1) must also include an explanation of how the person's information will be held and used.

(3) Where a registration officer is required by section 9E(1) of the 1983 Act to give a person an invitation to apply for registration—

(za) the registration officer must give the invitation either—

(i) by delivering it to the person, leaving it at the person’s address or sending it to the person’s address by post; or

(ii) by electronic means;

(a) the registration officer must give the invitation as soon as reasonably practicable and in any event within 28 days of the conditions in section 9E(1) being satisfied;

(b) the invitation must be in the form designed by the Electoral Commission under paragraph (1);

(c) the invitation must be accompanied by an application form in the form designed by the Electoral Commission under regulation 26(3), on which the registration officer has, if practicable, printed the full name and address of the person to be invited; and

(d) the invitation, the application form and a pre-addressed reply envelope, return postage of which has been prepaid, must be given in an envelope on which is printed—

(i) a direction requesting that the envelope is not redirected if it is incorrectly addressed; and

(ii) a direction requesting that any other person who receives the envelope who is resident at the address to which the invitation is addressed inform the registration officer if the addressee is not resident at that address and the registration officer’s contact details in order that they may do so.

(3A) Paragraphs (3)(c) and (d) do not apply where the registration officer gives the invitation by electronic means in accordance with paragraph (3)(za)(ii).

Steps to be taken by a registration officer to encourage a person to make an application for registration in response to an invitation to do so

32ZD

(1) If a registration officer has given a person an invitation to apply for registration under section 9E(1) of the 1983 Act and the person has not made an application to register within a reasonable time of receipt of the invitation, the registration officer must give the person a second invitation.

(2) If no application is received in respect of the second invitation within a reasonable time of receipt of the second invitation, the registration officer must give the person a third invitation.

(3) The registration officer may visit the address at which the first invitation was given in order to encourage the person to make an application for registration at any time and must make or have made one visit if no application has been received in response to the third invitation.

(3A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, paragraph (3) does not require a registration officer to make, or have made, any visits in the case where the invitations were given to a person under the age of 16.

(4) The second and third invitations to apply for registration, if required, must be in the same form as the first invitation to apply for registration.

(5) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply if the registration officer is satisfied that—

(a) the person is not entitled to be registered at the address at which the invitation or invitations to register was or were given; or

(b) the person is registered at a different address.

(6) Paragraphs (1) to (3) do not apply in relation to a person whom the registration officer has reason to believe would, if registered, be registered—

(a) in pursuance of an application made by virtue of section 7(2) or 7A(2) of the 1983 Act;

(b) in pursuance of a declaration of local connection, service declaration or overseas elector’s declaration; or

Requiring a person to make an application for registration

32ZE

(1) Where a registration officer requires a person to make an application for registration by a specified date under section 9E(4) of the 1983 Act, the registration officer must give the person notice in writing of the requirement.

(2) A registration officer may not require a person to apply for registration unless—

(a) the registration officer has taken the last of the steps required by regulation 32ZD;

(b) the registration officer has established that the person—

(i) has received an invitation to apply for registration;

(ii) has been informed how to make an application for registration; and

(iii) has been informed that the registration officer may impose a civil penalty if the person is required to make an application but does not do so; and

(c) the registration officer has established that the person is resident at the address at which the invitations to apply for registration were given.

(3) A notice under paragraph (1) must state—

(a) the date by which the person must make an application for registration;

(b) that, if the person does not make an application by that date, the registration officer may impose a civil penalty on that person;

(d) that, if the person is not entitled to be registered, they must, before the date in sub-paragraph (a), inform the registration officer of that fact and explain why they are not so entitled, and the person is not required to make an application for registration;

(e) that, if the person is registered at another address, they must, before the date in sub-paragraph (a), inform the registration officer of that fact and provide that address, and the person is not required to make an application for registration;

(f) that the person may make other representations before the date in sub-paragraph (a) as to why they should not be required to make an application to register by the specified date, or why a civil penalty should not be imposed if they do not do so.

(3A) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, the following provisions of this regulation do not apply in the case of a person who is under the age of 16—

(a) paragraphs (2)(b)(iii) and (3)(b) and (c);

(b) paragraph (3)(f), so far as requiring a notice to state that the person may make representations about why a civil penalty should not be imposed.

(4) The registration officer must give with the notice an application form in the form designed by the Electoral Commission under regulation 26(3) on which the registration officer has, if practicable, printed the full name and address of the person.

(5) A registration officer must cancel a requirement to make an application for registration, and give the person concerned notice in writing of the cancellation, if—

(a) the registration officer is satisfied that the person is not entitled to be registered at the address at which the invitations to register were given; or

(b) the registration officer is satisfied that the person is registered at a different address; or

(6) A registration officer may cancel a requirement to make an application for registration if the registration officer considers it appropriate to do so and must give the person concerned notice in writing of the cancellation.

Notice of Civil Penalty

32ZF

(1) The amount of the civil penalty, which a registration officer may impose under section 9E(7) of the 1983 Act, is £80.

(2) Where the registration officer imposes a civil penalty under that section, the registration officer must give the person notice in writing that the penalty has been imposed and specify the reasons for imposing it.

(3) The notice in paragraph (2) must state that the person must—

(a) within 28 days of the date of the notice, make an application to register;

(b) within 28 days of the date of the notice, pay the full amount of the civil penalty; or

(4) The notice in paragraph (2) must also state—

(a) the amount due;

(b) how to make payment;

(d) that making an application to register within 28 days will prevent the person being liable to pay the civil penalty.

Payment, enforcement and cancellation of civil penalty

32ZG

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person on whom a civil penalty is imposed under section 9E(7) of the 1983 Act must pay the amount of the penalty to the registration officer who imposed it within 28 days of the date of the notice given under regulation 32ZF(2).

(2) If a person on whom a civil penalty is imposed requests a review under regulation 32ZH(1) or brings an appeal under regulation 32ZI(1), the 28 day period in paragraph (1) ceases to run whilst that review or appeal is being considered, and in the calculation of that period—

(a) the day on which the review is requested or the appeal brought shall be excluded; and

(b) the day on which the review or appeal is concluded shall be included.

(3) If the person does not pay the civil penalty as required by paragraph (1) or (2), interest at 8% per annum will be charged from the date payment becomes overdue to the date of payment.

(4) A civil penalty not paid in accordance with paragraph (1) or (2) and any interest on the civil penalty is recoverable, if the county court so orders on the application of the registration officer, as if it were payable under an order of that court.

(5) A registration officer must cancel a civil penalty, and give the person concerned notice in writing of the cancellation, if—

(a) the person makes an application for registration at any time before the time for payment of the civil penalty in paragraph (1) or (2) has elapsed;

(b) the registration officer is satisfied that—

(i) the person is not entitled to be registered at the address at which the invitations to register were given; or

(ii) the person is registered at a different address; or

(6) A registration officer may cancel the civil penalty if the registration officer considers it appropriate to do so and must give the person concerned notice in writing of the cancellation.

Review of registration officer’s decision to impose a civil penalty

32ZH

(1) A person on whom a civil penalty has been imposed may request a review of the registration officer’s decision to impose the penalty.

(2) A request under paragraph (1) must be made in writing within 14 days of the date of the notice given under regulation 32ZF(2).

(3) Where a person requests a review of the registration officer’s decision under paragraph (1), the registration officer must within 7 days of receiving the request give notice in writing to the person—

(a) acknowledging the request;

(b) informing the person that they may within 14 days of the date of the notice—

(i) make representations explaining why they have not made an application to register or why the civil penalty should be cancelled;

(ii) submit evidence in support of such representations; and

(4) The registration officer must carry out a review, and such review may not start before the earlier of—

(a) the end of the fourteenth day after the date of the notice sent under paragraph (3); or

(b) the receipt of any representations or evidence.

(5) Following a review under paragraph (4), the registration officer may—

(a) uphold the decision to issue a civil penalty; or

(b) cancel the civil penalty.

(6) The registration officer must inform the person in writing of the outcome of the review.

(7) If the registration officer upholds the decision to impose a civil penalty, the notice must also state that the person on whom the penalty has been imposed—

(a) may appeal against that decision to the First-tier Tribunal, and how to make such an appeal; and

(b) must pay the penalty by a specified date, which shall be the date on which the 28 day period in regulation 32ZG(1) or (2) expires.

Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal against a notice of civil penalty

32ZI

(1) If a registration officer upholds the decision to issue a civil penalty under regulation 32ZH(5)(a), the person on whom the penalty was imposed may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

(2) On an appeal under paragraph (1) the First-tier Tribunal may—

(a) uphold the registration officer’s decision to impose the civil penalty; or

(b) cancel the civil penalty.

Representations regarding clerical errors

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

Disclosure of certain local authorities’ records

Notices in connection with registration

Communication of notices made on polling day

Notice by registration officer of a change of address

Notifying registration officer of change to edited register preference

93A

(1) A person must make a request to the registration officer for the area in which the person resides if that person wishes to be included in or omitted from the edited register otherwise than in accordance with an application under regulation 26.

(2) A person making a request under paragraph (1) must provide the registration officer with the person’s full name, address and an indication of whether the person wishes to be included in or omitted from the edited register.

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

(4) Where a person has made a request in accordance with paragraph (1), the registration officer may notify the person in writing of the following—

(a) confirmation that the person has requested that they are included in or omitted from the edited register;

(b) when a revised version of the edited register reflecting the request will be published under regulation 93(3A);

Notification of outcome of reviews

31FZA

(1) Where the registration officer is required to send to the subject of the review a notice under regulation 31D(2) and the subject of the review has required the review to be heard or has made representations to the registration officer, the registration officer must notify the subject of the review in writing of its outcome and when doing so—

(a) state whether there is a right of appeal under section 56(1)(azd) or (aa) of the 1983 Act;

(b) specify the time within which any notice of appeal under that section must be given (in accordance with regulation 32(2)); and

(2) Where the registration officer is required to send to the subject of the review a notice under regulation 31D(2) and the subject of the review has not required that the review be heard, or has not made any representations to the registration officer, the registration officer may notify the subject of the review of its outcome and when doing so state that there is no right of appeal of that decision.

Determinations of entitlement to remain registered during the annual canvass

Anonymous registration: applications and declarations

Anonymous registration: determination of applications by registration officer

Anonymous registration: evidence consisting of relevant court orders or injunctions

Anonymous registration: evidence by attestation

Registration appeals

Annual canvass

Steps to be taken by a registration officer where no information in response to an annual canvass form is received in respect of a particular address

Invitations to apply for registration

Steps to be taken by a registration officer where no information in response to an annual canvass form is received in respect of a particular address

Requiring a person to make an application for registration

Notice of Civil Penalty

Payment, enforcement and cancellation of civil penalty

Review of registration officer’s decision to impose a civil penalty

Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal against a notice of civil penalty

Representations regarding clerical errors

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

Disclosure of certain local authorities’ records

Notices in connection with registration

Communication of notices made on polling day

Notice by registration officer of a change of address

Annual canvass: register of local government electors in Wales

Annual canvass

32ZBA

(1) Before conducting the annual canvass required by section 9D(1) of the 1983 Act, each registration officer must comply with paragraph (1) of regulation 32ZBB in respect of a register ....

(2) Each registration officer must conduct the annual canvass in respect of a residential address in the area for which they are responsible in accordance with regulation 32ZBD, for the purposes of a register ....

(3) The obligation in paragraph (2) does not apply in a case described in paragraph (4) or (5) (but see paragraph (6)).

(4) The first case is where—

(a) having taken into account the information described in paragraph (7), the registration officer—

(i) is satisfied that it is not necessary to remove a person registered at the address from a register; and

(ii) has no reason to believe that any addition may be required to ... a register in respect of the address; and

(b) having proceeded to conduct the annual canvass in accordance with regulation 32ZBE—

(i) the registration officer remains satisfied as to the matters in sub-paragraph (a); or

(ii) in circumstances where the registration officer has reason to believe that—

(aa) it may be necessary to remove a person registered at that address from a register; or

(bb) a person who resides at the address may be entitled to be added to such a register,

the registration officer is aware of that person's name.

(5) The second case is where—

(a) the address is in respect of a property to which regulation 32ZBF(2) applies;

(b) the registration officer has—

(i) identified a responsible person in respect of that property within the meaning of regulation 32ZBF(8); and

(ii) attempted to make contact with the responsible person in accordance with regulation 32ZBF(5) or (5A); and

(c) the responsible person has, within a reasonable time of the registration officer making that attempt, communicated the information described in regulation 32ZBF(5)(a) to (c) to the officer.

(6) Where any of the information described in paragraph (7) or taken into account in accordance with paragraph (8) indicates that only persons under the age of 18 are registered at an address ..., the registration officer must conduct the annual canvass in respect of that address in accordance with regulation 32ZBD.

(7) The information in this paragraph is—

(a) the results of the data comparison described in regulation 32ZBB, where disclosed to the registration officer by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in accordance with paragraph (6) of that regulation; and

(b) any information which the registration officer may hold following the determination of an application under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act in respect of a person—

(i) whose name has not yet been published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of that Act; or

(ii) excluded from the data comparison described in regulation 32ZBB by virtue of paragraph (7) of that regulation.

(8) In determining whether either of the cases described in paragraphs (4) or (5) is made out, the registration officer may take into account any other information which the officer may hold in writing or in data form for the purposes of the officer's registration duties ... or any information which that officer may inspect for those purposes.

Annual canvass data matching

32ZBB

(1) Subject to paragraphs (7) and (8), each registration officer must disclose to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government the matching data in respect of each person aged 16 or over who is registered in a register ..., maintained by that registration officer.

(2) The matching data must be disclosed in such format and through such an infrastructure system as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may have notified to the registration officer in writing.

(3) Following receipt of the matching data from the registration officer, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose that data to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

(4) Where matching data has been disclosed to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under paragraph (3), the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may compare it against information appearing in the following types of database kept by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions—

(a) databases kept for the purposes of functions relating to social security (including such information kept on behalf of the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland)); and

(b) databases relating to working tax credit, child tax credit and child benefit (being information kept on behalf of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs).

(5) The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may disclose the results of the data comparison to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

(6) On receipt of such results, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose them to the registration officer in whose register the person concerned is registered.

(7) Where—

(a) a registration officer has successfully determined a person's application under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act at any time during the 90 day period ending with the day before the day on which the registration officer proposes to commence disclosure of matching data in accordance with paragraph (1); and

(b) that person's entry on the register has been published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act,

the registration officer may disclose matching data for that person to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government but is not required to do so.

(8) Where a person falls within the scope of section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act the registration officer must not disclose that person's matching data under paragraph (1).

(9) In this regulation—

“infrastructure system” has the meaning given in Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003;

“matching data” means—a person's full name;where held by the registration officer, a person's date of birth;the address, including postcode, of the property at which a person is registered;where held by the registration officer, the unique property reference number of the property at which a person is registered; andany other information held by the registration officer which relates to a person's entry on the register and which the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may have specified in writing.

Processing of information in connection with annual canvass data matching

32ZBC

(1) Information disclosed under regulation 32ZBB may not be disclosed to any other person, except—

(a) so that it may be taken into account by a registration officer for the purposes of determining whether the annual canvass may be conducted otherwise than in accordance with regulation 32ZBD ...;

(b) for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings.

(2) A person who discloses information in breach of paragraph (1) is guilty of an offence and liable—

(a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to a fine, or to both;

(b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or to a fine, or both.

(3) Any person who processes information under regulation 32ZBB must do so in accordance with any requirements as to the processing of information that may have been imposed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, including requirements as to the transfer, storage, destruction and security of that information.

(4) Where a registration officer processes the results of the data matching for the purposes of determining whether the officer may conduct the annual canvass required by section 9D(1) of the 1983 Act otherwise than in accordance with regulation 32ZBD, the officer must do so in accordance with any requirements as to the processing of information that may have been imposed by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales and the register of local government electors in England.

(5) Where the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government imposes requirements as to processing under paragraph (3) or (4), such requirements must be imposed before a registration officer is required to disclose that information under regulation 32ZBB.

Annual canvass for properties where it may be necessary to make any addition to, or deletion from, an electoral register and steps to be taken where no response is received

32ZBD

(1) A registration officer must attempt to make contact with a person who is, or may be eligible to be, registered, in a register ... at a residential address in the area for which the officer is responsible by–

(a) sending a paper communication to the address, or

(b) visiting the address in order to obtain the information required by the canvass form.

(2) If no information in response is received within a reasonable time following an attempt to make contact with a person under paragraph (1), the registration officer must make a further attempt to make contact with at least one person at the address in order to obtain the information required by the canvass form.

(3) If no information in response is received within a reasonable time following an attempt to make contact with at least one person under paragraph (2), the registration officer must make a further attempt to make contact with at least one person at the address in order to obtain the information required by the canvass form.

(4) Subject to paragraphs (6) to (9) a registration officer may comply with the requirements in paragraphs (2) and (3) by any of the following means—

(a) by sending a paper communication to the address;

(b) where the registration officer holds a telephone number for one or more persons aged 18 or over who are registered in the register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or the register of local government electors in England, at the address, and whom the registration officer believes are resident at that address, by means of a telephone call to each of those persons;

(ba) where the registration officer holds a telephone number for one or more persons aged 16 or over who are registered in the register of local government electors in Wales, at the address, and whom the registration officer believes are resident at that address, by means of a telephone call to each of those persons;

(c) where the registration officer holds relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 18 or over who are registered in the register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or the register of local government electors in England, at the address, and whom the registration officer believes are resident at that address, by sending a communication by electronic means to each of those persons; ...

(ca) where the registration officer holds relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 16 or over who are registered in the register of local government electors in Wales, at the address, and whom the registration officer believes are resident at that address, by sending a communication by electronic means to each of those persons; or

(d) by visiting the address.

(5) Where a registration officer has complied with the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) but has not done so in either case by sending the canvass form to the address, and the registration officer is required to comply with paragraph (3), the registration officer must do so by sending that form to the address.

(6) Where a registration officer has complied with the requirement in paragraph (2) other than by sending a paper communication to the address or by visiting the address, and the registration officer is required to comply with paragraph (3), the registration officer must do so by sending a paper communication to the address or visiting the address but, where paragraph (5) applies, the registration officer must instead do so by sending the canvass form to that address.

(7) Where no information has been received in response to an attempt to make contact with a person under paragraph (3), and a registration officer has not already made an attempt to contact a person at that address by means of a telephone call or calls under paragraph (4)(b) or by visiting the address, the officer must make an attempt by one or other of these means in order to obtain the information required by the canvass form.

(8) A registration officer complies with the requirements in paragraphs (2), (3) or (7) by means of a telephone call or calls under paragraph (4)(b) without having to make a telephone call to each of the persons to whom that sub-paragraph relates, where—

(a) one of the persons to whom that sub-paragraph relates has provided the information required by the canvass form; or

(b) an identical telephone number is held in respect of all persons to whom that sub-paragraph relates.

(9) Where a registration officer complies with the requirements in paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) by sending a canvass form—

(a) before sending the form the registration officer must if practicable print on the form—

(i) any information required by the canvass form which the officer already holds in respect of each person who is registered at the address ... with the exception of persons registered as mentioned in section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act;

(ii) the full name and nationality of each person whose application to be registered at the address in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England, under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act has been successfully determined, where the date on which the applicant's name will be published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act is after the date on which the form will be sent, with the exception of persons registered as mentioned in section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act; ...

(iii) an indication as to whether any person who is registered at that address is aged 76 or over; and

(iv) the full name, date of birth and nationality of each person whose application to be registered at the address in a register of local government electors in Wales, under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act has been successfully determined, where the date on which the applicant’s name will be published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act is after the date on which the form will be sent, with the exception of persons registered as mentioned in section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act; and

(b) the form must be accompanied by a pre-addressed reply envelope, the postage of which has been pre-paid.

(9A) In relation to a register of local government electors in Wales, the registration officer must not, under paragraph 9, print on the form the date of birth of any person aged under 16.

(10) In this regulation—

“canvass form” means the canvass form designed by the Electoral Commission under regulation 32ZBG(1)(a)(ii);

“paper communication” means—the canvass form, orthe canvass communication B designed by the Electoral Commission under regulation 32ZBG(1)(a)(iii).

Annual canvass for properties where the registration officer is satisfied that it is not necessary to make any deletion from an electoral register and has no reason to believe that any additions to an electoral register may be required

32ZBE

(1) Paragraph (2) applies where, having taken into account the information described in regulation 32ZBA(7), a registration officer—

(a) is satisfied that it is not necessary to remove a person registered at a residential address in the area for which they are responsible from a register ...; and

(b) has no reason to believe that any addition may be required to a register ... in respect of the address.

(2) The registration officer may proceed to conduct the annual canvass for a register ... by complying with the requirements of paragraphs (3) to (6) (but see paragraph (7)).

(3) A registration officer must send either of the following—

(a) a canvass communication A to the address; or

(b) where—

(i) the registration officer holds relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 18 or over who are registered at the address in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England; or

(ii) the registration officer holds relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 16 or over who are registered at the address in a register of local government electors in Wales,

a communication by electronic means to each of those persons.

(4) Any communication sent under paragraph (3)(b)(i) must require the recipient to—

(a) confirm to the registration officer whether the information it contains in respect of persons who are registered at the address in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England, with the exception of persons falling within section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act, is complete and accurate; and

(b) provide to the registration officer, except where it is already included in the communication, the full name and nationality of each person aged 16 or over who is residing at the address and who is eligible to be registered in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England, including an indication as to whether any of those persons is aged 76 or over.

(4A) Any communication sent under paragraph 3(b)(ii) must require the recipient to—

(a) confirm to the registration officer whether the information it contains in respect of persons who are registered at the address in a register of local government electors in Wales, with the exception of persons falling within section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act, is complete and accurate;

(b) provide to the registration officer, except where it is already included in the communication, the full name and nationality of each person aged 14 or over who is residing at the address and who is eligible to be registered in a register of local government electors in Wales, including an indication as to whether any of those persons is aged 76 or over; and

(c) provide to the registration officer the date of birth of each person aged 14 or 15 who is residing at the address and who is eligible to be registered in a register of local government electors in Wales.

(5) In circumstances where a registration officer—

(a) does not hold relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 18 or over who are registered at the address in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England; or

(b) has sent a communication by electronic means under paragraph (3)(b)(i) to one or more persons in respect of the address and has not, within a reasonable time of sending the communication, received the required information from at least one person in respect of the address,

the registration officer must send a canvass communication A to the address.

(5A) In circumstances where a registration officer for a register of local government electors in Wales—

(a) does not hold relevant contact details for one or more persons aged 16 or over who are registered at the address; or

(b) has sent a communication by electronic means under paragraph (3)(b)(ii) to one or more persons in respect of the address and has not, within a reasonable time of sending the communication, received the required information from at least one person in respect of the address,

the registration officer must send a canvass communication A to the address.

(6) The registration officer must, before sending a canvass communication A, print the following information on the communication—

(a) the full name and nationality of each person—

(i) who is registered at the address ... with the exception of persons registered as mentioned in section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act; or

(ii) whose application to be registered at the address ..., under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act has been successfully determined, where the date on which the applicant's name will be published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act is after the date on which the communication will be sent, with the exception of persons registered as mentioned in section 9D(6) of the 1983 Act; and

(b) if practicable, an indication as to whether any of those persons is aged 76 or over.

(7) If, after complying with the requirements of paragraphs (3) to (6), a registration officer has reason to believe—

(a) that it may be necessary to remove a person registered at that address from a register ...; or

(b) that a person who resides at the address may be entitled to be registered ...,

but is not aware of that person's name, the officer must conduct the annual canvass in accordance with regulation 32ZBD in respect of the address.

(8) In this regulation, “canvass communication A” means a document in the form designed by the Electoral Commission under regulation 32ZBG(1)(a)(i).

Annual canvass in respect of particular types of property

32ZBF

(1) Paragraph (4) applies where a registration officer has identified a responsible person in respect of a property to which paragraph (2) applies in the area for which the officer is responsible.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), this paragraph applies to—

(a) a care home registered under Part 2 of the Care Standards Act 2000 ;

(b) a property at which is situated a care home service regulated under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016 , unless that service is provided wholly or mainly to persons under the age of 18;

(d) a building occupied by students within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Schedule 14 to the Housing Act 2004;

(e) a hostel, being a building in which is provided, for persons generally or for a class or classes of persons—

(i) residential accommodation otherwise than in separate and self-contained premises; and

(ii) either board or facilities for the preparation of food adequate to the needs of those persons, or both; and

(f) a property—

(i) at which persons reside who together do not form a single household; or

(ii) in respect of which a registration officer has made an attempt to deliver a document in the previous 18 months but has been unable to do so; and

in respect of which a registration officer reasonably believes that conducting the annual canvass in accordance with this regulation is more likely to fulfil its purpose under section 9D(2) of the 1983 Act than if conducted in accordance with any other part of these Regulations.

(3) Paragraph (2)(f) does not apply to a building containing two or more flats which are occupied or intended to be occupied wholly or mainly for residential purposes.

(4) The registration officer may proceed to conduct the annual canvass for that property ..., by complying with paragraph (5) or (5A) (but see paragraph (7)).

(5) The registration officer must attempt to make contact with the responsible person and must request the following information in respect of each person aged 16 or over who is residing at that property and is eligible to be registered in a register of parliamentary electors in England or Wales, or a register of local government electors in England—

(a) full name;

(b) nationality;

(5A) The registration officer for a register of local government electors in Wales must attempt to make contact with the responsible person and must request the following information in respect of each person aged 14 or over who is residing at that property and is eligible to be registered in a register of local government electors in Wales—

(a) full name;

(b) date of birth;

(d) an indication as to whether that person is aged 76 or over.

(6) A registration officer may comply with paragraph (5) or (5A) by any means the registration officer thinks appropriate, including—

(a) by sending a paper communication;

(b) by visiting the property;

(d) by electronic means.

(7) If, after complying with the requirements of paragraph (5) or (5A), the registration officer does not receive the information requested within a reasonable time of having made the attempt to contact the responsible person the registration officer must conduct the annual canvass in respect of that property in accordance with regulation 32ZBD.

(8) For the purposes of this regulation “responsible person” means any person who lawfully holds or has access to, and may lawfully disclose to the registration officer, any of the information in paragraph (5) or (5A) in relation to the residents of a property to which paragraph (2) applies.

Electoral Commission requirements

32ZBG

(1) The Electoral Commission must—

(a) design the following—

(i) a paper canvass communication A;

(ii) a paper canvass form;

(iii) a paper canvass communication B;

(b) obtain the approval of the Secretary of State to the communications and the form; and

(2) The Electoral Commission may design a version of each of the communications and the form referred to in paragraph (1)(a) for use in England and another version of each of them for use in Wales.

(3) Before giving the approval referred to in paragraph (1)(b), in respect of any form or communication to be used in Wales, the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.

(4) The canvass communication A referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(i) must—

(a) include a space for the full name and nationality of each person who is registered ... at the address to which the communication relates;

(b) include a space for the full name and nationality of each person whose application for registration at the address ... under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act has been successfully determined where the date on which the applicant's name will be published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act is after the date on which the communication will be sent;

(c) where a person's personal data has been processed under regulation 32ZBB prior to the registration officer sending the communication, include a notification that such processing was carried out in accordance with any applicable requirements relating to the protection of personal data, and that any information provided in response to the communication will be processed in accordance with such requirements;

(d) require the occupier or, if there is no occupier, or it is not reasonably practicable for the occupier to provide the required information, the person in charge of the premises—

(i) to notify the registration officer responsible for the area in which the address is situated if any of the information provided in the communication is incomplete or inaccurate; and

(ii) to provide the registration officer with the full name and nationality of each person aged 16 or over who is eligible to be registered ... and is residing at the address to which the communication relates, where that information is not included in the communication;

(iii) to provide the registration officer with the full name, date of birth and nationality of each person aged 14 or 15 who is eligible to be registered in a register of local government electors in Wales, and is residing at the address to which the communication relates, where that information is not included in the communication;

(e) set out the manner in which the responses referred to in subparagraph (d) may be provided, and—

(i) require a named person at the address to which the communication relates to make a declaration that the information contained in such responses is true; and

(ii) require an indication, if the person making the declaration is not resident at the address, of the capacity in which they are making it.

(5) The canvass form referred to in paragraph (1)(a)(ii) must—

(a) require the recipient to provide the full name and nationality of each person aged 16 or over who is eligible to be registered ... and is residing at the address to which the form is delivered;

(b) include a space for the full name and nationality of each person whose application for registration at the address ... under section 10ZC(1) or 10ZD(1) of the 1983 Act has been successfully determined where the date on which the applicant's name will be published in a notice of alteration under section 13A(2) of the 1983 Act is after the date on which the canvass form will be sent;

(c) where a person's personal data has been processed prior to the registration officer sending the form, include a notification that such processing was carried out in accordance with any applicable requirements relating to the protection of personal data, and that any information provided in response to the form will be processed in accordance with such requirements;

(d) include space for the email address and telephone number or numbers of each person residing at the address who is entitled to be registered ... together with an explanation that provision of this information is not mandatory;

(e) include a declaration that the information provided is true, to be made by a named person at the address to which the form is given and include an indication, if the person who is making the declaration is not resident at the address, of the capacity in which they are making it ;

(f) require the recipient to provide the full name, date of birth and nationality of each person aged 14 or 15 who is eligible to be registered in a register of local government electors in Wales, and is residing at the address to which the form is given.

Invitations to apply for registration

Steps to be taken by a registration officer to encourage a person to make an application for registration in response to an invitation to do so

Requiring a person to make an application for registration

Notice of Civil Penalty

Payment, enforcement and cancellation of civil penalty

Review of registration officer’s decision to impose a civil penalty

Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal against a notice of civil penalty

Representations regarding clerical errors

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

Disclosure of certain local authorities’ records

Notices in connection with registration

Communication of notices made on polling day

Notice by registration officer of a change of address

Contents of service declaration: declarant with a service qualification under section 14(1A) of the 1983 Act

15A

(1) In relation to the registration of local government electors in Wales, a service declaration by a person claiming a service qualification under section 14(1A) of the 1983 Act must include, in addition to the matters specified in regulation 15(1)(a) and (b), such of the particulars specified in paragraph (2), (3) or (4) as are relevant to the declarant.

(2) Where the declarant claims a service qualification on the grounds that a parent or guardian of the declarant is a member of the forces (within the meaning of section 59(1) of the 1983 Act) or the spouse or civil partner of such a member, the declaration must state—

(a) the service (whether naval, military or air forces) in which the member serves,

(b) the rank or rating of the member,

(d) where the member serves in the military forces, the regiment or corps in which the member serves.

(3) Where the declarant claims a service qualification on the grounds that a parent or guardian of the declarant is a Crown servant to whom regulation 14 applies or the spouse or civil partner of such a servant, the declaration must state—

(a) the name of the organisation in which the servant works,

(b) a description of the post of the servant, and

(4) Where the declarant claims a service qualification on the grounds that a parent or guardian of the declarant is a British Council employee or the spouse or civil partner of such an employee, the declaration must state—

(a) a description of the post of the employee, and

(b) any staff number, payroll number or other similar identifying number of the employee.

Transmission of service declaration

Notification by registration officer in respect of service declarations

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

Additional requirements for application for an emergency proxy vote in respect of a particular parliamentary election or local government election in England: grounds relating to voter identification

55B

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (2A), this regulation applies to an application under paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 4 to which regulation 56(3D) applies.

(2) This regulation does not apply where—

(a) the application under paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 4 includes an application under paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 4, and

(b) regulation 52(1B) applies to that application under paragraph 6(8).

(2A) This regulation does not apply where regulation 56(3D) applies to an application by virtue only of the circumstances set out in paragraph (3F).

(3) Where this regulation applies, the application under paragraph 4(2) must (in addition to providing any other information required by this Part)—

(a) state that it is made on grounds relating to voter identification, and

(b) state which of the conditions set out in regulation 56A apply to the applicant.

(4) In this regulation, “grounds relating to voter identification” is interpreted in accordance with regulation 56A(1).

Closing date for applications

Grounds relating to voter identification

56A

(1) For the purposes of this Part, an application is made on grounds relating to voter identification if it is made because the following apply to B—

(a) condition 1, 2, 3 or 4 in this regulation, and

(b) except where B has an anonymous entry on the register, condition 5.

(2) In this regulation, “B” means—

(a) the applicant, where—

(i) the application is made under paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 4, and

(ii) regulation 52(1B) does not apply to the application made under paragraph 6(8) of Schedule 4 which is included in that application under paragraph 4(2);

(b) otherwise, the person already appointed as the applicant’s proxy at the time the application is made.

(3) Condition 1 is that—

(a) immediately before the deadline, B has a specified document which B intends to use to vote in person at a parliamentary election or at a local government election in England, and

(b) after that deadline, that document is—

(i) lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged so as to be no longer usable as a specified document for the purposes of that election, or

(ii) sent by B to another person to prove B’s identity, and B considers it is unlikely to be returned to B on or before the day of poll at that election.

(4) Condition 2 is that—

(a) at a time during the period of 3 months ending with the deadline, B has applied for a specified document,

(b) immediately before the deadline, B has not received that document, and

(5) Condition 3 is that—

(a) B has an anonymous entry on the register, and

(b) either—

(i) B has not been issued with an anonymous elector’s document, or

(ii) B has been issued with an anonymous elector’s document, and after the deadline B is allocated an electoral number which is different from the one shown on that document other than as a result of an application under section 9B of the 1983 Act (anonymous registration).

(6) Condition 4 is that—

(a) B has a temporary electoral identity document which is valid for use on the day of poll at a parliamentary election or a local government election in England, and

(b) before B is able to vote in person at such an election using that document, proceedings at B’s polling station are adjourned in accordance with rule 42 of the elections rules (adjournment of poll in case of riot).

(7) Condition 5 is that B does not have access to another specified document.

(8) In this regulation—

(a) “anonymous elector’s document” and “temporary electoral identity document” have the meanings given in regulation 3(1) of the Voter Identification Regulations 2022;

(b) the “deadline” means the time stated in regulation 56(2) or (3) after which, ignoring any other paragraphs in that regulation, an application under paragraph 4(2) or 6(7) or (8) of Schedule 4 must be disregarded or refused (as the case may be) by a registration officer;

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

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

Marked register for polling stations

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