Paragraph 11A Verification of information provided in an absent voting applicationF1

(1)

On receipt of an absent voting application made otherwise than through the UK digital service, a registration officer must disclose the applicant’s name or names, address, date of birth and national insurance number (“the first stage information”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government 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.

(2)

Following receipt of the first stage information from the registration officer or, in the case of an application made by an applicant through or partially completed using the UK digital service, from an applicant, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose the first stage information to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

(3)

If the first stage information has been disclosed to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under sub-paragraph (2), the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may compare it against—

(a)

the name, address, date of birth and national insurance number of individuals appearing in the following types of data kept by the Secretary of State—

(i)

data kept for the purposes of functions relating to social security, including such information kept on behalf of the Department for Social Development, and

(ii)

data relating to working tax credit, child tax credit and child benefit, being information kept on behalf of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, and

(b)

any other information contained in such types of data which relates to the information disclosed under sub-paragraph (2).

(4)

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may disclose the results of the comparison of the first stage information under sub-paragraph (3) (“the second stage information”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

(5)

On receipt of the second stage information, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may disclose that information—

(a)

to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, or

(b)

to the registration officer to whom the application has been made or, in the case of an application made through the UK digital service, the registration officer appointed for the register to which the application relates.

(6)

Sub-paragraph (3) applies to the second stage information where it has been disclosed to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under sub-paragraph (5)(a) as it applies to the first stage information disclosed under sub-paragraph (2).

(7)

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions may disclose the results of the comparison of the second stage information under sub-paragraph (6) (“the third stage information”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

(8)

On receipt of the third stage information, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government may—

(a)

compare the third stage information against the information provided in the absent voting application, and

(b)

notify the registration officer to whom the application has been made or, in the case of an application made through the UK digital service, the registration officer appointed for the register to which the application relates, as to whether the comparison in sub-paragraph 8(a) resulted in a match.

(9)

When determining the application, the registration officer must take into account any information disclosed by, or notification received from, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in accordance with this paragraph.

(10)

This paragraph does not apply in relation to an application under article 7(2)—

(a)

which is received by the registration officer after 5.00 p.m. on the sixth day before the day of the poll at the election for which it is made, and

(b)

if paragraph 11(3) or (3A) applies.

(11)

In sub-paragraph (1)—

(a)

“infrastructure system” has the meaning given in paragraph 7 of Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003;

(b)

the reference to the applicant’s address is a reference to the address contained in the application under paragraph 1(1)(b).

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 1 paras. 11A-11C inserted (3.11.2026) by The Representation of the People (Absent Voting and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/91), regs. 1(3), 20 (with Pt. 7)