Running electoral registration - Wales

Contents

The notice of registration must contain:1

• an explanation of your duty to register the person at the end of the notice period
• the exceptions to this duty which are:
  • the person notifies you that they do not wish to be registered
  • you are no longer satisfied they are entitled to be registered – due to information the person has provided or other information you have obtained
  • the person wishes to or has already made an application for an anonymous entry
• information about the right to apply for anonymous registration
• the type of elections that the person will be entitled to vote in following registration on the local government register and those that will require a further application for registration
• a statement that any information collected or provided for the purpose of identifying unregistered electors for the purpose of automatic voter registration has been processed in accordance with data protection legislation
• where the person is under the age of 16, an explanation of how the person’s information will be held and used
• a statement that if the person is not entitled to be registered, they must inform the registration officer before the end of the notice period
• a request that if a person receives a notice which is addressed to someone who doesn’t live at the address, they inform you
• the date of the last day of the notice period
• information about how to apply to register in the Parliamentary register of electors
• your contact details.

Format

The notice of registration must be given in writing and must be sent to the unregistered person at their address.2

A copy of the notice may also be given to the responsible person in a property that would ordinarily fall under the route 3 canvass process.3 This should be in addition to the notice sent to the elector at the address, not instead of.

Any reminders must be in the same format as the original notice.

Duration of the notice period

The notice period is 28 days beginning with the day the notice is given.4

There is no prescribed time period between conclusion of the data match and issuing notices so you may plan this in accordance with your local circumstances.

There is no objection period or requirement to give public notice of the details of people added to the register under automatic voter registration prior to inclusion in the electoral register.

By-elections during the notice period

If a by-election occurs during the notice period, you should contact the identified unregistered electors to advise them that they will need to complete an application to register before the registration deadline, 12 working days before the day of poll, to ensure they are registered to vote in time for the election.

If timing allows, you should send information with the notification of registration to reduce the potential for elector confusion.

If a UK Parliament or Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) by-election is due to take place you should contact electors added or due to be added to the local government register with a J marker to advise them that automatic registration does not extend to UK Parliament or PCC elections and that to vote in the election they will need to complete an application to register before the registration deadline for that poll.

You should expect to receive enquiries about the different franchises from electors. To support this you should have information available on your website and have trained your staff on the requirements of registration in order to appear on the different registers.