Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

Access by party lists

The election agent of a registered political party that has submitted a list of candidates to the Returning Officer is entitled to a copy of the electoral register and lists of absent voters for the whole of the constituency. The register and lists can only be supplied after the party has submitted a list of candidates.1

Additionally, a person nominated by the Nominating Officer may be given a copy of the lists of absent voters.2

Registered political parties are, however, entitled to obtain and use the electoral register and absent voters’ lists at any time for electoral purposes and, in the case of the register, for the checking of donations. 

Access by individual candidates

Individual candidates are entitled to receive a copy of the electoral register and lists of people voting by post or proxy (the lists of absent voters) once they officially become a candidate covering the constituency they are standing in.3

There are two registers

Using information received from the public, registration officers keep two registers.

The electoral register

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service, checking credit applications.

The open register (also known as the edited register)

The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Electors can request not to have their name and address included in the open register.