Running electoral registration - Scotland

The Representation of the People (Postal and Proxy Voting etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 introduced the requirement for postal vote applications for UK Parliamentary elections to undergo ID verification as well as enabling applications to be made online. 

The Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 and The Absent Voting (Miscellaneous Amendment) Order 2026 commenced on 3 November 2026 and introduced similar provisions for postal vote applications made for Scottish Parliament and local council elections in Scotland.

New applications received after commencement 

All postal and postal proxy vote applications received after the commencement must satisfy the requirement to include information for the verification of personal identifiers.1  

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. 

Notifying existing postal and postal proxy voters of the requirement to reapply

Existing long term postal and postal proxy voters for Scottish Parliament and local council elections will continue to be able to vote by post until either the existing signature refresh date, or the 31 January 2029 - whichever is sooner.

You will need to notify these voters of the need to re-apply before the expiry of their existing arrangement.

The notification must include the date on which their existing postal vote entitlement is to end and inform them about how to make a fresh application before that date if they want to continue to vote by post.2