Registration changes
Published 12 February 2026
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Representation of the People Bill 2026: Registration changes
The limited time available for election administrators to undertake all the activities required to deliver a poll is one of the biggest challenges they face. This is particularly the case for a General Election, where the unscheduled nature of that election, its scale, complexity and associated significant spike in registration activity, compound to exacerbate underlying issues. By making small adjustments to the registration timetable, we will be able to aid administrators in their delivery of a poll and help make sure elections remain a no-fail event.
Summary of measures in the Bill
Changes to the Register to Vote deadline
We intend to set out in law a clear and unambiguous deadline to register to vote in advance of a poll. This will be set at 5pm, 12 working days before a poll. This aligns the register to vote deadline with other election application deadlines, and allows any queries or issues with a registration application to be addressed within the working day. This creates consistency for electors and enables effective administration at a pivotal point in the electoral timetable.