Postal voting statistics by ward

Dear Alan,

Further to your recent email I can advise you that the form K information
is not available under the Freedom of Information. However, the documents
are available for inspection under Reg 118 of the Representation of the
People Regulations 2001.

Any person may request to inspect the Form K's. The request must:
- be made in writing
- specify the purposes for which the information in any document will be
used
- specify who will be inspecting the documents
- specify the date on which they wish to inspect the documents

The documents may not be copied, either electronically or by handwritten
notes.

Any information obtained through the inspection of the election
documentation may only be used for :

- research purposes within the meaning of Section 33 of the Data
Protection Act 1998 (research, history and statistics)
- electoral purposes

The request can be made via email, or to the following address:
Elections Office
Burnley Borough Council
Town Hall
Manchester Road
Burnley
BB11 1JA

In relation to the process used for the checking of personal identifiers
the process is as follows

Postal vote envelopes are opened in batches of 50 and the personal
identifiers removed each batch is then scanned into the pickwick computer
system and the system identifies which pi's appear not to match with the
original form. Each batch is then adjudicated by a deputy returning
officer. This is done by the system showing the original form and the pi
side by side on the screen the form is either accepted or rejected. All
rejected pi's are then taken from the batches together with the
corresponding unopened ballot paper envelope and a copy of the original
form and the returning officer makes the final decision as to whether the
form is accepted or rejected.

All the original applications are kept in the room where the ballots are
opened so that if the computer system encounters a problem the checks can
be done manually.

As you may be aware the legislation requires that a sample of 20% of pi's
are checked during the election process, this Council took the view when
the legislation was implemented that a 100% check should be carried out
and this is what happens.

I hope this is helpful

Should you require any further information, you can contact me direct at
[1][email address]

Ruth Wynn
Democracy Manager
>>> Alan Smithee <[FOI #623 email]> 26/05/2008
23:01 >>>
Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

I am interested in postal voting for the recent local elections on 1
May. For each ward contested in this election, can you please provide
me with the statistics contained within the Form K 'statement as to
postal ballot papers' completed by your returning officer as required
by Schedule 3 to the Representation of the People (England and Wales)
Regulations 2001. This data should be provided in a spreadsheet
format rather than Word or PDF.

Finally, I would also be very grateful if you could outline for me
the processes used by the council to check that personal identifiers
(signatures and dates of birth) for completed ballots match those
given when an application for a postal vote was made. This
description should include, but not necessarily be limited to,
descriptions of all human and electronic verification methods and the
circumstances in which particular methodologies are used.

Kind regards,

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