Requesting evidence of someone’s nationality or immigration status
If you are not satisfied as to any applicant or elector’s nationality, you have the power to require the applicant or elector to provide documentary evidence confirming their nationality. You can ask for the following evidence:1
a birth certificate
a certificate of naturalisation
where a person has made an application to register as an overseas elector, further evidence as to their status as a British citizen
a document showing that someone has become a Commonwealth citizen
a statutory declaration that they are a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a relevant citizen of the European Union
In order to be entitled to register to vote a person must be legally resident in the UK. If you are in any doubt as to whether an applicant or elector is legally resident, you can request checks of a person’s immigration status against Home Office records.
Further guidance on this process and contact details are available by contacting the Home Office: [email protected] (Opens in new window). You will be asked to complete a template which will be provided – please complete and return the section below the heading ‘Subject 1’ to the same email address. The Home Office have requested one template per subject per email, and that ‘ER’ be added to the subject header for each email to ensure that it goes into the correct folder for a response. The Home Office will respond within five working days unless a file is required, in which case it will respond within ten working days. The fact that you may require additional evidence of an applicant’s nationality, and may request checks of a person’s immigration status against Government records is included on the registration application form approved by the Minister and made available to you by the Commission.