Question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance on whether an individual who is non-resident in the UK for tax purposes is eligible to join the UK electoral roll as a domestic, non-overseas elector if they rent or own a dwelling in the UK.

A person must be resident at the address at which they want to be registered. Residence has a particular meaning in electoral law and is not equivalent to residence for other purposes such as income or council tax purposes. Normally, a person is resident at an address for electoral purposes if it is their permanent home address.

When making a determination on someone’s residence, Electoral Registration Officers will need to consider the circumstances of the applicant, including the purpose they are present at a particular address.

The Commission’s guidance for Electoral Registration Officers sets out eligibility requirements. The Commission provides this guidance for EROs in England, Scotland and Wales.