# The Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026, Regulation 18: General requirements for an absent vote


In paragraph 1 (general requirements for applications) of schedule 3 (absent voting), after sub-paragraph (8) insert—
“(9) Where by virtue of arrangements made by the Minister of the Crown, an absent voting application is made through the UK digital service—
(a) the Minister of the Crown may complete the application in part using information provided by the applicant as part of an application, or partially completed application, under section 10ZC or 10ZD of the 1983 Act for registration in, or alteration of, a register of electors made through or completed using the UK digital service,
(b) where the application is required to contain a signature, the application must contain a compliant photograph or electronic scan of the applicant’s signature,
(c) the Minister of the Crown must—
(i) request that the applicant provide their most recent previous name (if they have one), and
(ii) provide an explanation of the purpose for which the information will be used.
(10) In sub-paragraph (9)(b), “compliant photograph or electronic scan of the applicant’s signature” means—
(a) the signature contained in the photograph or electronic scan complies with the requirements of sub-paragraph (2)(a), and
(b) the photograph or electronic scan of the signature is sufficiently clear and unambiguous so as to comply with the requirements of sub-paragraph (2).
(11) Where an applicant is unable to provide a national insurance number in accordance with sub-paragraph (1)(aa), the applicant may provide as part of the application a copy of any of the documents listed in paragraph 9B(2) to (4).
(12) The Minister of the Crown must send to the ERO—
(a) subject to sub-paragraph (13), any absent voting application the Minister of the Crown receives,
(b) the applicant’s previous name (if any provided),
(c) any copy documentation provided by the applicant in accordance with sub-paragraph (11), and
(d) a reference number unique to that application.
(13) Where an absent voting application made through the UK digital service in accordance with sub-paragraph (9) includes the applicant’s national insurance number, the Minister of the Crown—
(a) may send the ERO that application without the national insurance number, and
(b) where the Minister of the Crown does so, must indicate to the ERO that a national insurance number was included when the application was made by the applicant.
(14) A document provided in accordance with sub-paragraph (11) or paragraph 9B may be transmitted by an applicant by electronic means.”.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2026/9780111065211/regulation/18 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-absent-voting-miscellaneous-amendment-scotland-regulations-2026/regulation-18
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.