Explanatory note

These Regulations are made under section 14 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22). Section 14 introduces a requirement for applicants for proxy or postal voting to provide personal identifiers (a signature and date of birth). Section 14 also enables transitional regulations to be made to provide for the capture of the personal identifiers of those who are existing absent voters at the time when section 14 comes into force.

Regulation 2 requires a registration officer to send a written notice to all existing absent voters who are entitled to an absent vote at an election occurring on or after 3 May 2007, requiring that they supply him with the required personal identifiers. An absent voter will have a period of six weeks within which to respond. Where no response is received within the first three weeks, the registration officer is required to send a copy of the notice to the absent voter.

Regulation 3 specifies the information that must be included in the notice sent to existing absent voters together with the information that must be included with the notice or copy of the notice.

Regulation 4 requires a registration officer to determine whether an absent voter has failed or refused to provide the required personal identifiers.

Regulation 5 specifies the consequences of a refusal or failure to provide the required personal identifiers. An existing absent voter will cease to be entitled to vote by post, by proxy or by post as proxy and any entry relating to him in the absent voting records must be removed. The registration officer must notify the absent voter and provide him with certain information.