These Regulations amend the Representation of the People (Absent Voting at Local Government Elections) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (“the 2007 Regulations”). The 2007 Regulations apply where a postal or proxy vote is being or has been sought in respect solely of local government elections in Scotland or of a particular local government election in Scotland.

Regulation 2 inserts a new regulation 15D into the 2007 Regulations. This temporarily disapplies any requirement under regulation 15A(1) and (2) of the 2007 Regulations for registration officers to send a notice requesting a fresh signature from any person entitled to vote by post or proxy and whose signature on record is more than 5 years old. This is temporarily disapplied where the notice under regulation 15A(1) and (2) would otherwise be sent by 7 May 2026. The registration officer is instead to send the notice by 31 January 2027.