24.—(1) Where a registration officer has doubts about a person’s age or nationality, he may require that person to produce such evidence as is specified in paragraph (2) below for the purposes of registration.
(2) The evidence which the registration officer may require is as follows–
(a)a birth certificate F1...;
(b)a certificate of naturalisation;
(c)where a person has made an overseas elector’s declaration, further evidence of his status as a British citizen including a document showing that he has become a British citizen by virtue of registration;
(d)in any other case–
(i)a document showing that he has become a Commonwealth citizen by virtue of registration; or
(ii)a statutory declaration that he is a qualifying Commonwealth citizen or citizen of the Republic of Ireland or [F2a qualifying foreign national.]
[F3(2A) Where a person has made an overseas elector’s declaration, the registration officer may require a copy of a document referred to in paragraph (2)(a) to (c).]
(3) If any fee is payable in connection with the making of a declaration for the purposes of this regulation, the registration officer shall pay that fee and it shall be treated as part of his registration expenses within the meaning of section 54(1) of the 1983 Act(1).
(4) Any such declaration shall be made available for inspection at the registration officer’s office until the determination of the application for registration and of any objections duly made to it.
[F4(4A) Paragraph (4) does not apply where the declarant has, or has applied for, an anonymous entry.]
(5) This regulation does not apply where an application for registration is made in pursuance of a service declaration.
(6) In this regulation “qualifying Commonwealth citizen” has the same meaning as in section 4 of the 1983 Act(2).
[F5(7) In this regulation “qualifying foreign national” has the same meaning as in section 202(1) of the 1983 Act.]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in reg. 24(2)(a) omitted (10.6.2014) by virtue of The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Description of Electoral Registers and Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/3206), regs. 1(5)(b), 8
F2Words in reg. 24(2)(d)(ii) substituted (3.8.2020) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/180), regs. 1(3), 3(a); S.S.I. 2020/162, reg. 2
F3Reg. 24(2A) inserted (16.1.2024) by The Representation of the People (Overseas Electors etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1406), regs. 1(2), 10(2) (with Sch. 2 para. 2(d))
F4Reg. 24(4A) inserted (1.4.2007) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/925), regs. 1(1), 4
F5Reg. 24(7) inserted (3.8.2020) by The Representation of the People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2020 (S.S.I. 2020/180), regs. 1(3), 3(b); S.S.I. 2020/162, reg. 2
Commencement Information
I1Reg. 24 in force at 16.2.2001, see reg. 1(1)
Section 54 was amended by Schedule 4 to the 1985 Act.
Section 4 was substituted by section 1(2) of the 2000 Act.