Running electoral registration - Scotland

This section applies where an applicant was previously registered via a service declaration1 or was registered on the basis that they were treated as resident at a relevant address (non resident merchant seamen).2

If after requiring the applicant to provide documentary evidence, you remain unsatisfied that an applicant was previously entered in an electoral register in respect of the relevant address, because either:

• the applicant has been unable to provide a document from the list of acceptable evidence3 that must be accepted
• you have received alternative documents that meet the evidential requirement but you remain unsatisfied

you can require the applicant provides either:

• additional documentary evidence
• an attestation of registration status made by a qualifying attestor 

Additional documentary evidence

This evidence must be either a copy (or original) of any documents which:

• show the full name of the applicant4
• can be used to confirm that the applicant met the registration status requirement5

Attestation of registration status

Alternatively the applicant may supply an attestation of registration status from a qualifying elector6 which must include:

• confirmation of which of the registration status requirements7 the applicant met
• an indication of the dates between which, to the best of the qualifying attestor’s knowledge, the applicant met the requirement8  

The registration status requirement is that the applicant had a service qualification because they were:

• a member of HM forces
• employed as a Crown servant or a British Council employee

or that the applicant was registered via a declaration of local connection as a merchant seaman. 

Attestation of relevant address connection

If you remain unsatisfied after requesting additional evidence or an attestation of registration status from a qualifying attestor, you may require the applicant to make an attestation of relevant address connection.

The attestation of relevant address connection must include:

• confirmation that the applicant met the address connection requirement
• an indication of the dates between which, to the best of the qualifying attestor’s knowledge, the applicant met the requirement.

The relevant address connection requirement is:

• they would have been residing in the UK if they had not been serving as a member of the armed forces
• they would have been residing at the relevant address but for their occupation as a merchant seaman or they commonly stayed at the relevant address which was a hotel or club for merchant seamen during the course of their occupation as a merchant seaman