Running electoral registration - England

Checking the applicant's qualification to register under the previously resident condition

For an applicant to qualify to register under this condition, they must have been previously resident in the UK and not have been previously registered. 

If you have reason to believe that an applicant may have been previously registered at any time then a residency application should be rejected and the elector should be advised to apply in respect of the last address at which they were registered, even if they have since been resident elsewhere.  

If you are satisfied the previously resident condition applies, rather than the registration condition, an applicant is required to provide the last address at which they were resident in the UK. This is in addition to the need to verify the applicant’s identity.

You must be satisfied that an applicant was previously resident at that address.1 You can use any additional information available to you to assist you in being satisfied that the applicant meets the previously resident condition. Our guidance on Carrying out checks of further information to satisfy the eligibility conditions for overseas electors has more information. 

If after you have carried out the checks of other information available, you remain unable to be satisfied that the applicant meets the previously resident condition, you can reject the application.
 

Last updated: 29 August 2024