Running electoral registration - Scotland

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Is the identity attestation for an overseas applicant valid and complete?

Is the identity attestation for an overseas applicant valid?

When you receive an identity attestation, you must assess whether it is valid.

You should do this by checking whether it is complete and that the attestor meets the relevant requirements to be a qualified attestor.

Is an identity attestation complete?

Question – does the identity attestation meet the following requirements:1	Notes	Answer
Confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application	This would be confirmed by written statement and attestor signing the attestation	Yes/No
Be in writing and signed by a qualifying attestor	This should be written on the attestation	Yes/No
State the qualifying attestor’s full name	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
State the qualifying attestor’s date of birth	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
State the qualifying attestor’s occupation	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
State the qualifying attestor’s residential address and, if different, the address in respect of which the qualifying attestor is registered as an elector	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
If the attestor is an overseas elector, state the qualifying attestor's British or Irish passport number together with its date and place of issue	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
If the attestor is a domestic elector, state the qualifying attestor’s electoral number [or if the qualifying attestor is registered in Northern Ireland, the applicant’s Digital Registration Number (DRN)]	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
Include an explanation as to the qualifying attestor’s ability to confirm that the applicant is the person named in the application, including (but not limited to) the qualifying attestor’s connection to the applicant and the length of time that that connection has existed	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
Include confirmation that the qualifying attestor is aware of the offence of providing false information to a registration officer	This would be confirmed by written statement and attestor signing the attestation	Yes/No
Include a declaration by the qualifying attestor that all of the information provided in the attestation is true	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No
State the date on which it is made	This should be written or printed on the attestation	Yes/No

If the answer to all these questions is yes then the applicant has provided a complete attestation. If one or more of the questions are answered with a no, the attestation is not complete and the applicant must be directed to ask the attestor to supply the missing information.

If an attestor cannot supply the missing information, the applicant should be told that they must seek an attestation from another source, or their application will be rejected. You could set a deadline date for this. This will help you if you decide to reject an application because no response has been received. The period of time given to applicants to respond is at your discretion. However, you should allow a reasonable amount of time for the applicant to source and return their attestation.

Last updated: 13 December 2023