Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025
Schedule 2 to the Representation of the People Act 1983 (provisions which may be contained in regulations as to registration etc) is amended in accordance with subsections (2) and (3).
In paragraph 1(5A)(a)(ii), omit the words from “, other” to the end.
After paragraph 5ZA, insert—
Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000 (absent voting in Great Britain) is amended in accordance with subsections (5) and (6).
In paragraph 3 (absent vote at elections for a period)—
in sub-paragraph (1)(b), omit the words from “and, in the” to the end;
in sub-paragraph (1A), omit “in England”;
in sub-paragraph (4)(aa), omit “in England”;
in sub-paragraph (4)(ab)—
omit sub-paragraph (i);
in the words after sub-paragraph (ii), omit “post or”;
in sub-paragraph (5)(ca), omit “in England”;
in sub-paragraph (5)(d), omit the words from “by post” to “or who applied to vote”;
in sub-paragraph (7), omit the words from “and, in the” to “the period”;
in sub-paragraph (7A), omit “in England”.
In paragraph 7 (voting as proxy)—
in sub-paragraph (5)(c), omit the words from “and, in the” to the end;
in sub-paragraph (5A), omit “in England”;
in sub-paragraph (6)—
in paragraph (aa), omit “in England”;
omit paragraph (ab) (but not the “and” at the end);
in sub-paragraph (9)—
at the end of paragraph (c), insert “or”;
in paragraph (ca), omit “in England”;
omit paragraph (d) and the “or” before it.
The Scotland Act 1998 is amended as follows.
After section 12A insert—
In section 113 (subordinate legislation: scope of powers), in subsection (1A), after “12” insert “or regulations under section 12B”.
In section 114 (subordinate legislation: particular provisions), in subsection (1), after “sections” insert “12B,”.
Section 12B Where the regulations are made by the Scottish Ministers: Type L Where the regulations are made by a Minister of the Crown: Type C
After section 13A of the Government of Wales Act 2006 insert—
This Act comes into force on the day on which it is passed, subject to subsection (2).
Section 1(4) to (6) comes into force on such day as the Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument appoint.
The Secretary of State may by regulations made by statutory instrument make such transitional or saving provision as the Secretary of State considers appropriate in connection with the coming into force of any provision of this Act.
Regulations under subsection (3) may make provision for, or in connection with, the expiry of some or all devolved election postal vote entitlements.
Regulations under subsection (3) that make provision for, or in connection with, the expiry of the devolved election postal vote entitlement of a person who also has a parliamentary election postal vote entitlement may make provision for the purpose of aligning the expiry of those entitlements (including provision specifying or changing the date on which either or both of those entitlements expire).
In this section—
“devolved election postal vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by post (whether as elector or proxy) at local government elections in Wales or Scotland, where the entitlement was granted before the specified date on an application under paragraph 3(1) or 7(4)(a) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000;
“parliamentary election postal vote entitlement” means an entitlement to vote by post (whether as elector or proxy) at parliamentary elections in England and Wales or Scotland, where the entitlement was granted before the specified date on an application under paragraph 3(1) or 7(4)(a) of Schedule 4 to the Representation of the People Act 2000;
“specified date” means the date specified in the regulations.
Regulations under this section may make different provision for different purposes or areas.
This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This Act may be cited as the Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025.