Validation of EU Referendum Postal Votes for Blackpool Borough Council

The request was partially successful.

Dr. Rebecca Johnson

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,
Dear Sir,

I wish to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000:

Could you please provide the following information for the voting area known as Blackpool Borough Council in respect of postal voting in the EU Referendum held on 23rd June 2016.

Overseas voting entitlement
a) The TOTAL number of registered overseas voters;
b) The number of overseas voters who have permanent postal vote set up;
c) The number of overseas voters who registered a postal vote specifically for the above referendum ;
d) The number of overseas voters who have a periodic postal vote set up, that entitled them to vote in the above named referendum;
e) The number of overseas voters who had named a proxy to vote on their behalf in the above named referendum;

Number of votes issued and returned:
a) The TOTAL number of postal votes issued;
b The TOTAL number of postal votes returned;
c) The TOTAL number of postal votes rejected;
d) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes issued;
e) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes returned;
f) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes rejected;

In respect of verification of postal votes, could you please confirm what method (or methods) were used to verify the validity of the completed postal vote:
a) Visual comparison of both original documents;
b) Visual comparison where one or more of the comparison documents was a scanned image;
c) Use of automated recognition software and if this method was employed, the name of the software used;
d) Other form of verification (please detail)

Could you please provide the following in electronic format, preferably as a device-independent a plain text document.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Rebecca Johnson

FOI, Blackpool Borough Council

Thank you for your email.

 

Your request for information will be dealt with under the Freedom of
Information Act or Environmental Information Regulations and will be
allocated a reference number. It will be passed to the most appropriate
council department to gather the information. The department may respond
directly to you, but you may receive a response from the Information
Governance Team via [1][Blackpool Borough Council request email].

 

In line with the legislation, we strive to respond promptly but no later
than 20 working days after the date of receipt. If we need to extend this
to clarify your request or to undertake a complex Public Interest Test we
will let you know.

 

Information Governance Team

 

Blackpool Council

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Would you like to be kept up to date with Blackpool Council news ? Sign up
here - www.blackpool.gov.uk/YourBlackpool
http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/EmailDisclai... This message has been scanned
for inappropriate or malicious content as part of the Council's e-mail and
Internet policies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[Blackpool Borough Council request email]

Bernadette Rigby, Blackpool Borough Council

Good Afternoon Dr Johnson -

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request regarding postal voting in the EU Referendum held on 23rd June 2016.

Please find below the answers to the questions asked:

Q1) Overseas voting entitlement

a) The TOTAL number of registered overseas voters; 387

b) The number of overseas voters who have permanent postal vote set up; 154

c) The number of overseas voters who registered a postal vote specifically for the above referendum ; 24

d) The number of overseas voters who have a periodic postal vote set up, that entitled them to vote in the above named referendum; 2

e) The number of overseas voters who had named a proxy to vote on their behalf in the above named referendum; 68

Q2) Number of votes issued and returned:

a) The TOTAL number of postal votes issued; 27177

b The TOTAL number of postal votes returned; 23235

c) The TOTAL number of postal votes rejected; 422

d) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes issued; 199

e) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes returned; Info not available

f) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes rejected; Info not available

Q3) In respect of verification of postal votes, could you please confirm what method (or methods) were used to verify the validity of the completed postal vote:

c) Use of automated recognition software and if this method was employed, the name of the software used;

Xpress Software Solutions. Where is mismatch was found a visual comparison of both the Postal Voting Statement and a scanned image of the original postal vote application form was undertaken.

The legislation allows you to use the information supplied to you for your own personal use. Please be aware that any commercial use or other use such as publication or sale may be a breach of copyright under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 unless you obtain the copyright holders prior permission.

Not all of the information that the Council supplies to you that is subject to copyright, will be the Council’s copyright. You should see consent from the Council or the copyright holder as appropriate. If you wish to reuse the information supplied, you should contact the Council for advice on this.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you may ask for an internal review and you should submit this in writing to: FOI Internal Review, Blackpool Council, Town Hall, Blackpool FY1 1NA. Your request for an internal review should be submitted within 40 working days of receipt by you of this response.

If you are not happy with the outcome of the review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision, You can contact the Information Commissioner at Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF (www.ico.org.uk)

If you have any queries about this email, you can contact me or write to FOI, Town Hall, Blackpool, FY1 1NA or email us at [email address]. Please remember to quote the reference number when you contact us.

Kind regards,
Bernadette.

Bernadette Rigby
Democratic Governance Adviser
Democratic Governance
Governance and Partnership Services | Blackpool Council | Number One| Bickerstaffe Square| Blackpool | FY1 3AH Post to: Blackpool Council | PO Box 4 | Blackpool | FY1 1NA
T:   01253 477664
W: www.blackpool.gov.uk

Please address queries for the Safeguarding Adults Board to Sarah Rahmat, Safeguarding Adults Board Business Development Manager [email address] or 01253 476931

Blackpool – a fair place where aspiration and ambition are encouraged.

Follow this link to an interesting blog about the illuminations collection: www.illuminationscollection.wordpress.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Rebecca Johnson [mailto:[FOI #363212 email]]
Sent: 06 October 2016 13:11
To: FOI
Subject: 160943 Freedom of Information request - Validation of EU Referendum Postal Votes for Blackpool Borough Council

Dear Blackpool Borough Council,
Dear Sir,

I wish to make the following request under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000:

Could you please provide the following information for the voting area known as Blackpool Borough Council in respect of postal voting in the EU Referendum held on 23rd June 2016.

Overseas voting entitlement
a) The TOTAL number of registered overseas voters;
b) The number of overseas voters who have permanent postal vote set up;
c) The number of overseas voters who registered a postal vote specifically for the above referendum ;
d) The number of overseas voters who have a periodic postal vote set up, that entitled them to vote in the above named referendum;
e) The number of overseas voters who had named a proxy to vote on their behalf in the above named referendum;

Number of votes issued and returned:
a) The TOTAL number of postal votes issued;
b The TOTAL number of postal votes returned;
c) The TOTAL number of postal votes rejected;
d) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes issued;
e) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes returned;
f) The number of OVERSEAS postal votes rejected;

In respect of verification of postal votes, could you please confirm what method (or methods) were used to verify the validity of the completed postal vote:
a) Visual comparison of both original documents;
b) Visual comparison where one or more of the comparison documents was a scanned image;
c) Use of automated recognition software and if this method was employed, the name of the software used;
d) Other form of verification (please detail)

Could you please provide the following in electronic format, preferably as a device-independent a plain text document.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Rebecca Johnson

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #363212 email]

Is [Blackpool Borough Council request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to Blackpool Borough Council? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/change_re...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/offi...

For more detailed guidance on safely disclosing information, read the latest advice from the ICO:
https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/ico-...

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/EmailDisclai... This message has been scanned for inappropriate or malicious content as part of the Council's e-mail and Internet policies.

Would you like to be kept up to date with Blackpool Council news ? Sign up here - www.blackpool.gov.uk/YourBlackpool http://www.blackpool.gov.uk/EmailDisclai... This message has been scanned for inappropriate or malicious content as part of the Council's e-mail and Internet policies

hide quoted sections