Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what guidance the Electoral Commission has given to local authorities on the provision of overseas electors data to political parties, the manner in which it is provided; and whether an associated domestic home address is reported with the overseas elector entry.

The Electoral Commission’s guidance to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) sets out how overseas voters should be listed on the electoral register in England, Scotland and Wales.

Overseas voters should be listed as other voters at the end of each relevant part of the register, and legislation requires these entries to be shown without an address. A separate list of the names of overseas voters must be prepared and maintained by the ERO which includes the voter’s qualifying address and their present address.

The Commission’s guidance sets out who can request a copy of the full register and list of overseas voters. Registered political parties are entitled to request this information which must only be used for electoral purposes and for the purpose of complying with requirements on the control of donations.