Collection of temporary Voter Authority Certificates

You must arrange for a temporary Voter Authority Certificate to be made available for collection in person.1

Where the applicant gives an indication that they require a Braille, easy read or large print explanation of the temporary Voter Authority Certificate, the ERO must also arrange for a Braille, easy read or large print explanation of the issued document to be made available for collection with the issued document.2 Easy read and large print designs will be made available online and a hard copy stock of Braille will be supplied to each ERO via the centrally procured supplier appointed by DLUHC. If you need to reorder more stock, you will need to contact them.

You must notify the applicant:3

  • that the temporary Voter Authority Certificate is available to be collected
  • where and when the temporary Voter Authority Certificate may be collected from
  • that the temporary Voter Authority Certificate can only be collected by the applicant in person

Collection can be from anywhere that the ERO and applicant agree. This could include picking up the document from a polling station. If you are not also the RO, you would need to work with the relevant RO to decide on the process for arranging collection from a polling station. Temporary Voter Authority Certificates may be issued up to the close of poll for the relevant election, or up to the close of petition for the relevant petition, but you may wish to communicate a cut-off time for collection to the applicant so that there is sufficient time for the applicant to vote. You should ensure that processes are in place to maintain a clear audit trail and to ensure the security of Voter Authority Certificates while in transit or while awaiting collection from any collection point other than the ERO’s office.

If you agree to allow collection of a Voter Authority Certificate, you should consider how you will be satisfied that you have established the applicant’s identity, as you cannot simply rely on checking the photograph for integrity purposes. A proportionate approach should be adopted that seeks to use some proof of identity that can be easily verified by staff, but that is not too onerous for the elector. 

Diweddarwyd ddiwethaf: 8 Chwefror 2023