The Representation of the People (Absent Voting and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 / Rheoliadau Cynrychiolaeth y Bobl (Pleidleisio Absennol a Diwygiadau Amrywiol) (Cymru) 2026

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

These Regulations make provision to limit, to a maximum of three years, the period for which a person can apply to vote by post at Senedd elections. Provisions also provide for the implementation of the amendments made to Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (c. 2) (“ 2000 Act ”) by the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025 (c. 27) (“ 2025 Act ”), which limit the period for which a person can apply to vote by post at local government elections in Wales.

These Regulations make provision for the online submission of relevant devolved absent voting applications for Senedd elections and local government elections in Wales, as well as the verification of information provided in such applications (whether or not submitted online). The Regulations also provide for registration officers to be able to request further evidence from applicants to verify the applicant’s identity.

These Regulations make a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order 2025 ( S.I. 2025/864 ) (W. 150) (“ 2025 Order ”).

Part 1 makes provision for the title, commencement and interpretation of these Regulations.

Regulation 1 brings regulations 1, 2 and 29 to 44 into force on 24 March 2026 and all of the remaining provisions into force on 3 November 2026.

Regulation 2 sets out the definitions that apply in the Regulations.

Part 2 makes provision relating to the restrictions of the period for which a person can apply for a postal vote.

Regulation 5 amends article 6 (absent vote at Senedd elections for a particular or an indefinite period) of the 2025 Order, which currently allows for applications for absent voting at Senedd elections to be made for a definite or indefinite period. The amendments mean that at Senedd elections it will no longer be possible for a person to apply for a postal vote for an indefinite period. Under the changes, the period for which a person can apply to vote by post for a Senedd election may not exceed three years. The amendments provide that the postal vote for the maximum period possible will run until the third 31 January following the date on which the application for that postal vote is granted. This will ensure that an entitlement for a postal vote ends on 31 January in the relevant year, which will give the person time to apply for a fresh postal vote ahead of any elections scheduled for May of that year. The amendments also allow a person to apply for a postal vote for a shorter period.

Regulation 6 amends article 10 (voting as proxy at Senedd elections) of the 2025 Order, which concerns persons voting as a proxy on behalf of another elector at a Senedd election. The amendments make equivalent changes to those made by regulation 5, so that a grant of an application to vote by post by a proxy voter in relation to a Senedd election may not exceed three years.

Regulation 7 amends Schedule 1 (absent voting at Senedd elections) to the 2025 Order to reflect the changes to the postal vote period made by regulations 6 and 7. Regulation 7(3) makes amendments to paragraph 12 (grant or refusal of applications). Regulation 7(3)(a) inserts a new sub-paragraph (1A) which sets out that any notification to an applicant whose application to vote by post has been granted under paragraph 12(1) must include the date on which the entitlement to vote by post ends. Regulation 7(3)(b) inserts new sub-paragraphs (8A) to (8E) which provide for additional notifications to be sent by registration officers in certain circumstances. Regulation 7(4) inserts a new paragraph 15A which provides for electors and proxies, who are entitled to vote by post at a Senedd election by virtue of an entitlement granted for the maximum period, to be sent an additional notice informing them of the date on which the entitlement ends and providing information as to the process for making a fresh application. Regulation 7(5) amends paragraph 16 by inserting a new sub-paragraph (A1) so that the requirement to provide signatures at five yearly intervals no longer applies to electors or proxies who remain entitled to vote by post at a Senedd election.

Regulation 8 amends the Part 4 (absent voters) of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 ( S.I. 2001/341 ) (“ 2001 Regulations ”). Regulation 8(2) amends regulation 57 (grant or refusal of applications). Regulation 8(2)(a) amends paragraph (1A) so that where an applicant is notified that an application to vote by post for a local government election in Wales has been granted under paragraph (1), the notification must include the date on which the elector’s entitlement to vote by post ends. Regulation 8(2)(b) amends regulation 57(7) to provide for additional notifications to be sent by registration officers in certain circumstances. Regulation 8(3) amends regulation 60ZA (grant or refusal of applications) to provide for electors and proxies who are entitled to vote by post at a local government election in Wales by virtue of an entitlement granted for the maximum period, to be sent an additional notice informing them of the date on which the entitlement ends and providing information as to the process for making a fresh application. Regulation 8(4) amends regulation 60A (requirement to notify certain electors and proxies that postal vote entitlement is to end) so that the requirement to provide signatures at five yearly intervals no longer applies to electors or proxies who remain entitled to vote by post at a local government election in Wales.

Part 3 makes provision relating to general requirements for relevant devolved absent voting applications in relation to the provision of national insurance numbers.

Regulation 10 amends Schedule 1 (absent voting at Senedd elections) to the 2025 Order to provide for relevant devolved absent voting applications for Senedd elections to include the applicant’s national insurance number, or the reason why the applicant is not able to provide it.