The 1916 Representation of the People Act ruled that members of the armed forces should be listed in separate registers under the constituencies in which they normally lived. The Absent Voter Lists enabled servicemen and women to vote by proxy or by postal application, when away from home on active service. They record the civilian address of the absent voter, but more importantly they give service numbers and regimental details. Absent voter lists can be a valuable resource if you are trying to trace details of a First World War soldier. They often record the individual’s regiment, number and rank at the time, as well as his home address.