Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025
The bill has been signed off by the King and is now law.
This law lets Scotland and Wales set up online applications for postal and proxy votes in local and devolved elections, as already happens in England, and lets them ask for ID checks on those applications.
Summary drafted by AI, checked by Jonathan on 4 Oct 2026. Source: Parliament Library briefing.
Official title: Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Act 2025
- 1Introduced1st reading
- 2Main debate2nd reading
- 3Detailed checksCommittee
- 4ChangesReport stage
- 5Final vote3rd reading
- 6Other houseLords or Commons
- 7Becomes lawRoyal Assent
Nothing more. This bill is now law.
Put forward by Tracy Gilbert, Lord Murphy of Torfaen.
Votes so far
No Commons votes on this bill in the last 12 months.
Full timeline
| Date | Stage | House |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2024 | 1st reading | Commons |
| 17 Jan 2025 | 2nd reading | Commons |
| 4 Jun 2025 | Money resolution | Commons |
| 11 Jun 2025 | Committee stage | Commons |
| 4 Jul 2025 | Report stage | Commons |
| 4 Jul 2025 | 3rd reading | Commons |
| 7 Jul 2025 | 1st reading | Lords |
| 5 Sep 2025 | 2nd reading | Lords |
| 15 Oct 2025 | Order of Commitment discharged | Lords |
| 24 Oct 2025 | 3rd reading | Lords |
| 27 Oct 2025 | Royal Assent | Unassigned |
In the bill’s own words: A Bill to make provision about absent voting in connection with local government elections in Scotland and Wales, elections to the Scottish Parliament and elections to Senedd Cymru; and for connected purposes.
Source: Parliament Bills API · Commons votes from the Commons Votes API.