Article 7 Absent vote at a particular Senedd electionI1

England and Wales

(1)

Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by post at a particular Senedd election, the registration officer must grant the application if—

(a)

the registration officer is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of electors, and

(b)

the application contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth, and meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1.

(2)

Where a person applies to the registration officer to vote by proxy at a particular Senedd election, the registration officer must grant the application if—

(a)

the registration officer is satisfied that the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll will be, or are likely to be, such that the applicant cannot be reasonably expected to vote in person at the polling station allotted, or likely to be allotted, to the applicant under this Order,

(b)

the registration officer is satisfied that the applicant is or will be registered in the register of electors, and

(c)

the application contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth, and meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1.

(3)

Where a person who has an anonymous entry in the register of electors applies to the registration officer to vote by proxy at a particular Senedd election, the registration officer must grant the application if it meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1.

(4)

Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to a person who is included in the record kept under article 8 (absent voters lists at Senedd elections), but such a person may, in respect of a particular Senedd election, apply to the registration officer—

(a)

for that person’s ballot paper to be sent to a different address from that shown in the record, or

(b)

to vote by proxy,

if that person is shown in that record as voting by post at Senedd elections.

(5)

The registration officer must grant an application under paragraph (4) if—

(a)

in the case of any application, it meets the requirements set out in Schedule 1, and

(b)

in the case of an application to vote by proxy, the registration officer is satisfied that the applicant’s circumstances on the date of the poll will be, or are likely to be, such that the applicant cannot reasonably be expected to vote in person at the polling station allotted, or likely to be allotted, to the applicant under this Order.

(6)

The registration officer may dispense with the requirement under paragraphs (1)(b) and (2)(c) for the applicant to provide a signature if the registration officer is satisfied that the applicant is unable to—

(a)

provide a signature because of any disability the applicant has,

(b)

provide a signature because the applicant is unable to read or write, or

(c)

(7)

The registration officer must keep a record in relation to the persons whose applications under this article have been granted showing—

(a)

their dates of birth, and

(b)

their signatures, except in cases where the registration officer in pursuance of paragraph (6) has dispensed with the requirement to provide a signature.

(8)

The record kept under paragraph (7) must be retained by the registration officer for the period prescribed in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Art. 7 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)