Running electoral registration - Scotland

Fresh applications made in response to the discrepancy notice must be received and determined by the relevant day.1

You need to check that any fresh application enables you to perform the convergence of records for that elector and doesn’t introduce a new discrepancy. If a new discrepancy arises, you will need to contact the elector again to address the new discrepancy before the relevant day. 

Where you have received and determined a fresh application before the relevant day you must update the relevant absent voting records as applicable to that elector.2

Following the relevant day, a fresh application for an absent vote will override all previous arrangements for any poll types completely as there will only be one record.  

For more information on processing absent vote applications following the relevant day and after the convergence process, see our guidance on Transitional arrangements for postal vote applications or Transitional arrangements for proxy vote applications as appropriate.

You should confirm in writing any new absent vote arrangement. 

For more information see our guidance on confirming the outcome of a postal vote application or confirming the outcome of a proxy vote application. 

What action to take where no response is received

Where you have issued a discrepancy notice and have not received a fresh application that addresses the following discrepancies:

• postal vote address differences3
• signature waiver in place for one arrangement but not the other4
• proxy name and/or address differences5
• Scottish Parliament and Local council elections postal and UK Parliament elections proxy arrangements6
• Scottish Parliament and Local council elections proxy and UK Parliament elections postal arrangements7

The Scottish Parliament and Local council absent vote arrangement will cease to have effect on the relevant day.

As soon as practicable following the relevant day, you must ensure that your records relating to these Scottish Parliament and Local council elections arrangements are updated to reflect that the arrangements have ceased to have effect.8

As soon as practicable following the relevant day you must send a notice to the elector at their qualifying address informing them:9  

• that their Scottish Parliament and Local council elections absent vote arrangement has ceased to have effect
• why it has ceased to have effect
• the impact of that arrangement ceasing 
• how to make a fresh application. 

You should include confirmation of the remaining UK Parliament election absent voting arrangement. 

We have produced template notices which you can find in the absent voting section of our resources page.

Appeals

There is no route of appeal where a Scottish Parliament and Local council elections absent voting arrangement has ceased as a result of the discrepancy notification process.