Running electoral registration - Wales

This section applies where an applicant was:

• previously registered via a declaration of local connection
• on the last day on which the person was resident in the UK, they were not resident at an address but could have made a declaration of local connection in respect of such an address1

If after requiring the applicant to provide documentary evidence, you remain unsatisfied that an applicant was or could have been previously entered in an electoral register via a declaration of local connection  in respect of the relevant address, because either:

• the applicant has been unable to provide a document from the list of acceptable evidence2 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 local connection 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 applicant3
• confirms that the applicant met the local connection requirement4  

Attestation of local connection

Alternatively, the applicant may supply an attestation of local connection from a qualifying attestor which must:5

• confirm the basis on which the applicant met the local connection requirement6
• give an indication of the dates between which, to the best of the qualifying attestor’s knowledge, the applicant met the requirement7  

The local connection requirement is that the applicant was registered via a declaration of local connection because they were:

• a person of no fixed abode
• a patient in a mental health hospital whose stay at the hospital was sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there
• a remand prisoner whose stay at a penal institution was sufficient for them to be regarded as resident there
• a looked after child or kept in secure accommodation8  

Attestation of relevant address connection

If you remain unsatisfied after requesting additional evidence or an attestation of local connection from a qualifying attestor, you may require the applicant to make an attestation of relevant address connection.9  

The attestation of relevant address connection must include:

• confirmation that the applicant met the relevant 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:10  

• that the applicant would have been residing at the relevant address if the applicant had not been a patient or detained
• that the relevant address was, or was nearest to, a place in the UK where the applicant commonly spent a substantial part of their time (whether during the day or at night)

Our guidance on Address attestations has more information on the requirements of an attestation