Running electoral registration - England

The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 commenced on 31 October 2023.

New applications received on or after the 31 October 2023 commencement 

All proxy vote applications received on or after commencement must satisfy the new requirements including information for the verification of personal identifiers1 .

Where an application does not contain the required information, you should, where possible, make enquiries to obtain the missing information. If the missing information is not submitted, the application cannot be accepted. You should write to the elector, explain why the application has not been accepted and how to make a fresh application. 

Transitional arrangements for overseas electors with proxy votes

Proxy vote applications made after the commencement of The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 on 31 October 2023 will require the signature to be refreshed at the point the existing overseas declaration expires. If the proxy vote application is made  after commencement and the overseas elector is not yet on a 3 year renewal cycle, the overseas elector will be required to provide a fresh signature when their current overseas registration expires, which will not exceed 12 months. 

However, an automatic signature extension will be applied where: 

• the new proxy vote application is made post-commencement of The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
• the elector’s overseas registration has not yet moved from the 12 month renewal process to the new 3 year renewal process 
• the proxy application was made less than 3 months before the existing overseas elector declaration is due to be renewed 

If the elector does renew their declaration, the effect of that extension will be that the elector will not be required to provide a signature until their declaration is next due for renewal.

Our guidance on overseas electors has been updated to reflect changes as a result of the Elections Act 2022.