Running electoral registration - Wales

Requiring additional documentary evidence from an applicant who was previously registered as the spouse or civil partner of a service voter

This section applies where an applicant was previously registered via a service declaration as the spouse or civil partner of a service voter.

If after requiring the applicant to provide documentary evidence, you remain unsatisfied that an applicant was previously entered in an electoral register in respect of the relevant address, because either:

  • the applicant has been unable to provide a document from the list of acceptable evidence1 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 registration status made by a qualifying attestor

Additional documentary evidence

This evidence must be either a copy (or original, if appropriate) of any document which:2

  • shows the full name of the applicant3
  • can be used to confirm that the applicant met the registration status requirement4

You may also, in addition to or instead of the documentary evidence or attestation of registration status, require5 the applicant to provide a copy (or original, if appropriate) of a document which confirms:

  • the full current or former name of the service voter and their qualification as a service voter6
  • that the service voter is or was (as the case may be) the spouse, civil partner, parent or guardian of the applicant7  

Attestation of registration status

Alternatively the applicant may supply an attestation of registration status from a qualifying elector8 which must include:

  • which of the registration status requirements9 the applicant met
  • an indication of the dates between which, to the best of the qualifying attestor’s knowledge, the applicant met the requirement10  

The registration status requirement is that the applicant had a relevant service qualification because their spouse, civil partner, parent or guardian was a member of HM forces.

Attestation of relevant address connection

If you remain unsatisfied after requesting additional evidence or an attestation of registration status from a qualifying attestor, you may require the applicant to make an attestation of relevant address connection which 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 that they would have been residing in the UK had their spouse, civil partner, parent or guardian not been serving as a member of the armed forces.11   

Last updated: 13 December 2023