Using evidence to support determination of eligibility conditions of an overseas elector's application
You may use documentary evidence to determine an applicant’s entitlement to register under the previously registered or previously resident condition.1
Documentary evidence can be provided by an applicant at the point of their application or in response to a request from you when you are processing their application.
You must be satisfied that an applicant satisfies the criteria of having been previously registered or previously resident under which they have applied before you consider any evidence to support the application. For example, if you have reason to believe that an applicant applying using the residency condition should be applying under the previously registered or residency condition in a different local authority area, you should reject their application and tell them to reapply in the area that meets the legislative criteria.
Documentary evidence may be uploaded alongside an online application or delivered to your office by hand, by post or as an attachment to an email. Any copies of documents provided by applicants should be stored securely in the same way as application forms. For more information see our guidance on the retention of information submitted with applications.
You should be satisfied that copies provided to you appear to be genuine. Where you have doubt as to whether a document is genuine, you may ask the applicant to provide original documents or alternative documentary evidence. Where original documents or alternative documentary evidence is not available, you should direct the applicant to the address attestation process or reject the application.
Where documentary evidence does not appear to be genuine, you should advise the applicant of the penalties for supplying false information and inform your police Single Point of Contact (SPOC) where you suspect that false information may have been supplied.