Running electoral registration - Scotland

Postal vote signature identifier record

Where an elector has a Scottish Parliament and Local council elections postal vote arrangement and a UK Parliament postal vote arrangement and different signatures are held on each record, you must apply the signature held in the electors UK Parliament elections absent voting record as the sole signature on record with effect from the relevant day to enable convergence of the records.1

Notification requirements

There is no requirement to notify the elector that this change has taken place up to the relevant day. 

Postal vote or proxy postal votes - Maximum period for existing arrangements

The maximum period for a Scottish Parliament and Local council elections postal vote arrangement has been brought in line with the rules for UK Parliament elections. 

Scottish Parliament and Local council elections postal or proxy postal arrangements only

Where an elector or their proxy only has a Scottish Parliament and Local council elections postal vote arrangement, that arrangement will expire on the existing signature refresh date or the 31 January 2029 (whichever is sooner).2

Scottish Parliament and Local council elections and UK Parliament elections arrangements

Where an elector has existing postal vote arrangements in place for both Scottish Parliament and Local council elections and UK Parliament elections, you must apply the expiry date for the elector’s postal vote in UK Parliament elections or the existing signature refresh date 31 January 2029 (whichever is sooner).3

Notification requirements

There is no requirement to notify electors or proxies that this change has taken place. They will be notified in line with the postal vote reapplication process when their arrangement is due to expire. 

For more information see our guidance on the process for informing postal voters of the requirement to reapply.

Proxy postal vote arrangements 

Where a person is acting as proxy for an elector and has a postal vote in place for both the Scottish Parliament and Local council elections and UK Parliament elections, their Scottish Parliament and Local council elections proxy postal vote arrangement ends on the relevant day.4

As soon as possible after the relevant day you must send to the proxy at their qualifying address a notice to inform them that:

• their Scottish Parliament and Local council elections proxy postal vote arrangement has ended, the reason for this and the effect of that appointment ending 
• information about how to make a fresh application5

You must notify the elector who appointed the proxy, by a notice sent to the elector’s qualifying address, that their Scottish Parliament and Local council elections proxy postal vote arrangement has ended.6  

The person appointed as proxy will remain in place but would need to vote in person at Scottish Parliament and Local council elections polls until a new proxy postal arrangement is put in place.