This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Numbers of Postal Votes in Local Elections'.


Information Governance

Resources

The Guildhall

Nottingham

NG1 4BT

Tel: 0115 915 4155

Fax: 0115 915 4082

www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk

Mr Andy Platt

Emailed to [FOI #32380 email]


22nd April 2010

My Ref:

IGO/10-6914

Your Ref:

Contact:

Charlotte Halls

Email:

[Nottingham City Council request email]

Dear Mr Platt,

Re: Your request for information

Thank you for your email dated 9th April 2010. As the information you requested is not personal or environmental it has been processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I have investigated your request and have been provided the following response by Jane Todd, the Electoral Registration Officer, to share with you in answer to your questions;

The registration of electors is governed by the Representation of the People Act 1983 as amended. Under Section 8 of the Act, the council must appoint an officer of the council to be the registration officer for any constituency or part of a constituency coterminous with or situated in the council's area. I am the appointed officer for the registration areas of Nottingham East, Nottingham North and Nottingham South. My appointment as Electoral Registration Officer is separate to my appointment as Chief Executive and, although appointed by the council, the Electoral Registration Officer's responsibilities and duties are personal. An example of this is that the register of electors is deemed to be the property of the Electoral Registration Officer, not the local authority.

The Electoral Registration Officer does not carry out the duties on behalf of the local authority but in his own personal capacity. A list of public bodies and local authorities that are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is available at the following website:

http://www.foi.gov.uk/yourRights/publicauthorities.htm#schedule1

As you will see, the Freedom of Information Act does not list any person appointed under the Representation of the People Act 1983. It follows that the Electoral Registration Officer, Returning Officer or any other person appointed under the Act are not subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.

Notwithstanding that there is no statutory obligation to provide this information the responses to your questions are as follows:

  1. The number of valid postal vote applications received as at 12 April 2010 is 31,591.

  1. The number of postal votes taken to the count at the requested local elections were as follows;

Most of the information that we provide in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests will be subject to copyright protection. In most cases the copyright will be owned by Nottingham City Council. The copyright in other information may be owned by another person or organisation, as indicated in the information itself.

You are free to use any information supplied for your own use, including for non commercial research purposes. The information may also be used for the purposes of news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright

owner.

For information where the copyright is owned by the Council details of the conditions on re-use can be obtained by contacting the Information Governance Office of Nottingham City Council at The Guildhall, Nottingham, NG1 4BT or by telephoning us on (0115) 9154155. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.

If you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the above number quoting your personal case reference which is IGO/10-6914.

If you are not satisfied with the response provided or any exemptions applied you should write in the first instance to Stephanie Pearson, Information Governance, The Guildhall, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BT stating the reasons for your dissatisfaction. If you remain dissatisfied after receiving a response to your initial complaint you can request an independent review from the Information Commissioner's Office at FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. You may also contact the Information Commissioner's Office by telephone on 01625 545745 or by email at [email address].

Yours sincerely,

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Charlotte Halls

Information Governance Office

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