Amendment of article 10
4.—(1) Article 10 (absent vote at a particular Scottish parliamentary election) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (1)(b), after “application” insert “contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth and”.
(3) In paragraph (2)(c), after “application” insert “contains the applicant’s signature and date of birth and”.
(4) After paragraph (6) insert–
“(7) The registration officer may dispense with the requirement under paragraph (1)(b) or (2)(c) for the applicant to provide a signature if he is satisfied that the applicant is unable–
(a)to provide a signature because of any disability the applicant has,
(b)to provide a signature because the applicant is unable to read or write, or
(c)to sign in a consistent and distinctive way because of any such disability or inability.
(8) The registration officer must also keep a record in relation to those whose applications under this regulation have been granted showing–
(a)their dates of birth, and
(b)except in cases where the registration officer in pursuance of paragraph (7) has dispensed with the requirement to provide a signature, their signatures.
(9) The record kept under paragraph (8) must be retained by the registration officer for the period prescribed in paragraph 12A of Schedule 3.”.