26A.—(1) An application for alteration in respect of name under section 10ZD of the 1983 Act must be in writing and must state—
(a)the applicant’s full name;
(b)the full name in respect of which the applicant is currently registered;
(c)the date of the change of name;
(d)the address in respect of which the applicant is registered;
(e)a declaration by the applicant that the information provided in the application is true;
(f)the date of the application.
(2) The Electoral Commission must design a form for applications for alteration in respect of name under section 10ZD of the 1983 Act, which requires the information in paragraph (1) and includes—
(a)a statement that the information provided in the application will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and as to what information will appear on the electoral register;
(b)space for a bar code, local authority reference number and security code unique to each form; and
(c)space for the registration officer to include local authority information and details of how the registration officer may be contacted.
(3) The Electoral Commission must obtain the approval of the Lord President of the Council to the design of the application form under paragraph (2) and must then make the form available to registration officers.
(4) A person making an application for alteration in respect of name under paragraph (1) must give to the registration officer as part of their application a copy of one of the following documents as evidence of the applicant’s change of name—
(a)marriage or civil partnership certificate;
(b)overseas marriage or civil partnership certificate if it has been deposited in the General Register Office for England & Wales, the General Register Office for Scotland or the General Register Office for Northern Ireland; or
(c)deed poll or amended birth certificate.
(5) Where a person is unable to provide one of the documents in paragraph (4), they must provide their date of birth or national insurance number as part of their application or, if they are not able to provide their date of birth or national insurance number, the reason why they are not able to do so.
(6) Where the registration officer considers it appropriate, the officer may require that the applicant provide the original of the copy document provided under paragraph (4) after the application has been made.]
Textual Amendments