Running electoral registration - Wales

Postal vote signature identifier record

Where an elector has a Senedd and Local government elections postal vote arrangement and a UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner election postal vote arrangement and different signatures are held on each record, you must apply the signature held in the electors UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections absent voting record as the sole signature on record with effect from the relevant day to enable convergence of the records.1

Notification requirements

There is no requirement to notify the elector that this change has taken place up to the relevant day.

Postal vote or proxy postal votes - Maximum period for existing arrangements

The maximum period for a Senedd and Local government elections postal vote arrangement has been brought in line with the rules for UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Senedd and Local government elections postal or proxy postal arrangements only

Where an elector or their proxy only has a Senedd and Local government elections postal vote arrangement, that arrangement will expire on the existing signature refresh date or the 31 January 2029 (whichever is sooner).2

Senedd and Local government elections and UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections arrangements

Where an elector has existing postal vote arrangements in place for both Senedd and Local government elections and UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections polls, you must apply the expiry date for the elector’s postal vote in UK Parliament elections or the existing signature refresh date of 31 January 2029 (whichever is sooner).3

Notification requirements

There is no requirement to notify electors or proxies that this change has taken place, they will be notified in line with the postal vote reapplication process when their arrangement is due to expire.

For more information see our guidance on the process for informing postal voters of the requirement to reapply.

Proxy postal vote arrangements

Where a person is acting as proxy for an elector and has a postal vote in place for both the Senedd and Local government elections and UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections their Senedd and Local government elections proxy postal vote arrangement ends on the relevant day.4

As soon as possible after the relevant day you must send to the proxy at their qualifying address a notice to inform them that:

• their Senedd and Local government elections proxy postal vote arrangement has ended, the reason for this and the effect of that appointment ending
• information about how to make a fresh application5

You must notify the elector who appointed the proxy, by a notice sent to the elector’s qualifying address, that their Senedd and Local government elections proxy postal vote arrangement has ended.6

The person appointed as proxy will remain in place but would need to vote in person at Senedd and Local government elections polls until a new proxy postal arrangement is put in place.