The Voter Identification Regulations 2022

CHAPTER 2 Issuing and delivery or collection of electoral identity documents and anonymous elector’s documents

Issuing of electoral identity documents and anonymous elector’s documents

16.—(1) Where the registration officer grants an identity document application, the registration officer must issue the applicant with an electoral identity document or, as the case may be, an anonymous elector’s document which must—

(a) use the version of the design for that document most recently made available to the registration officer in accordance with regulation 15,

(b) state—

(i) in the case of an electoral identity document, the applicant’s full name,

(ii) in the case of an anonymous elector’s document, the applicant’s electoral number,

(c) contain the photograph of the applicant provided in accordance with regulation 4(3),

(d) state the date of issue,

(e) state an appropriate identifier, and

(f) in the case of an electoral identity document, state—

(i) the name of the local authority by which the registration officer is appointed, and

(ii) states the recommended renewal date for the document.

(2) In paragraph (1)(b)(ii), the applicant’s “electoral number” is the number—

(a) allocated to the applicant as stated in the register of electors, or

(b) where an entry related to the applicant is added to the register in pursuance of a notice issued under section 13A(2), 13AB(2), 13B(3), (3B) or (3D) or 13BC(3) or (6) of the 1983 Act, as stated in the copy of that notice.

(3) In paragraph (1)(e), an “appropriate identifier” is an identifier made up of up to 20 numbers or letters which—

(a) is allocated by the registration officer in respect of an electoral identity document or, as the case may be, an anonymous elector’s document, and

(b) is not an identifier allocated by that registration officer in respect of any other electoral identity document or anonymous elector’s document.

(4) In paragraph (1)(f)(ii), the “recommended renewal date” for an electoral identity document is the date which is the tenth anniversary of the date of issue of that document.

Delivery or collection of issued electoral identity documents and anonymous elector’s documents

17.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the registration officer must arrange for an electoral identity document or anonymous elector’s document issued in accordance with regulation 16 (“the issued document”) to be delivered by post to the applicant’s relevant delivery address (which has the meaning given in regulation 4(7)).

(2) An anonymous elector’s document to which paragraph (1) applies must be delivered in an envelope or other form of covering so as not to disclose to any other person that the applicant has an anonymous entry.

(3) The registration officer may arrange for the issued document to be made available for collection by the applicant in person (instead of arranging delivery in accordance with paragraph (1)) where—

(a) an indication is given by the applicant in accordance with regulation 4(1)(f), and

(b) the registration officer considers that it is necessary to make the issued document available for collection to ensure that the applicant receives the issued document.

(4) Where an issued document is made available for collection in accordance with paragraph (3), the registration officer must notify the applicant—

(a) that the issued document is available to be collected,

(b) of the location where, and the times during which, the issued document may be collected, and

(c) that the issued document may only be collected by the applicant in person, and

(d) where the issued document is an anonymous elector’s document, that the applicant must bring their certificate of anonymous registration when collecting the document, and must show the certificate upon request.

(5) Where the applicant gives an indication in accordance with regulation 4(1)(h), the registration officer must also arrange for a Braille, easy read or large print explanation of the issued document to be delivered or made available for collection (as the case may be) with the issued document.

(6) In paragraph (4)(d), “certificate of anonymous registration” means the certificate issued to an anonymous elector in accordance with regulation 45G of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 2001 or regulation 45F of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 2001.

(7) The registration officer may combine a notification under paragraph (4) with a notification under regulation 12.