Running electoral registration - Wales

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 date.

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
• Senedd and Local government elections postal and UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections proxy arrangements6
• Senedd and Local government elections proxy and UK Parliament and Police and Crime Commissioner elections postal arrangements7

The Senedd and Local government elections 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 Senedd and Local government 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 Senedd and Local government 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 and Police and Crime Commissioner elections 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 Local government and Senedd elections absent voting arrangement has ceased as a result of the discrepancy notification process.