# The Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026, Regulation 23: Definitions


In this Part—
“the 1983 Act” means the Representation of the People Act 1983,
“the 2000 Act” means the Representation of the People Act 2000,
“the 2001 Regulations” mean the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001,
“the 2006 Act” means the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act 2006,
“the 2007 Regulations” mean the Representation of the People (Absent Voting at Local Government Elections) (Scotland) Regulations 2007,
“the 2015 Order means” the Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015,
“devolved absent vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by proxy or to vote by post, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day, at—
(a) a Scottish parliamentary election, Scottish parliamentary elections, or local government and Scottish parliamentary elections, on an application under article 8, 9 or 10 of the 2015 Order (absent votes), or
(b) a local government election, or a local government elections, in Scotland, on an application under paragraphs 3, 4 or 6 of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“devolved absent voting application” means an application (including a partially completed application) made under—
(a) article 8, 9 or 10 of the 2015 Order, or
(b) paragraph 3, 4 or 6 of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act in relation to local government elections in Scotland,
“devolved postal vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by post, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day, at—
(a) a Scottish parliamentary election, Scottish parliamentary elections, or local government and Scottish parliamentary elections, where the entitlement was granted on an application under article 8(1) or 9(1) of the 2015 Order, or
(b) a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland, where the entitlement was granted on an application under paragraph 3(1), 3(7) or 4(1) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“devolved proxy appointment” means the appointment of a person as a proxy to vote for another person, where the appointment was made before the relevant day, at—
(a) a Scottish parliamentary election, or Scottish parliamentary elections, where the appointment was granted on an application under article 10(6) or (7) of the 2015 Order, or
(b) a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland, where the appointment was granted on an application under paragraph 6(7) or (8) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“devolved proxy vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by proxy, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day, at—
(a) a Scottish parliamentary election, Scottish parliamentary elections, or at local government and Scottish parliamentary elections on an application under article 8(2) or 9(2) of the 2015 Order, or
(b) a local government election, or local government elections, in Scotland, on an application under paragraph 3(2), 3(6), 4(2), 4(2A) or 4(3) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act.
“parliamentary election” has the same meaning as in schedule 1 (words and expressions defined) of the Interpretation Act 1978,
“qualifying address” means the address at which the elector is registered in the register of local government electors, maintained under section 9(1)(b) of the 1983 Act,
“registration officer” has the meaning given by section 8(1) of the 1983 Act,
“regulation 15A notice” means a notice under regulation 15A (requirement to provide fresh signatures) of the 2007 Regulations,
“regulation 60A notice” means a notice under regulation 60A (requirement to provide fresh signatures) of the 2001 Regulations,
“relevant day” means 3 November 2026,
“reserved absent vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by proxy or to vote by post at a parliamentary elections, or parliamentary elections, in Scotland, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day on an application under paragraph 3, 4 or 6 of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“reserved postal vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by post at a parliamentary election, or parliamentary elections, in Scotland, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day on an application under paragraphs 3(1), 3(7) or 4(1) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“reserved proxy appointment” means the appointment of a person as a proxy to vote for another person at a parliamentary elections, parliamentary elections, in Scotland, where the appointment was made before the relevant day on an application under paragraph 6(7) or (8) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“reserved proxy postal vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by post, as proxy, at parliamentary elections, or a parliamentary election, in Scotland, where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day on an application under paragraph 7(4) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act,
“reserved proxy vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by proxy at a parliamentary election, or parliamentary elections, in Scotland where the entitlement was granted before the relevant day on an application granted under paragraph 3(2), 3(6), 4(2), 4(2A) or 4(3) of schedule 4 of the 2000 Act.
“Scottish parliamentary election” means an election for membership of the Scottish Parliament.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2026/9780111065211/regulation/23 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-absent-voting-miscellaneous-amendment-scotland-regulations-2026/regulation-23
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.