Response 1086676

Response to request for information

Reference

1086676

Response date

12 April 2023

Request

I am looking for information on the percentage of applications for Voter Authority Certificates (VACs) that have been accepted and rejected by the council. I understand these are made in the first instance on the gov.uk website, and then passed on to yourselves to process - and so please take ‘received’ here to mean applications which come to you to be processed.

Please could you tell me:

1. The number of VAC applications received by the council 
2. The number of these applications accepted/approved by the council
3. The number of these applications rejected by the council
4. Any numerical breakdown you hold on the reasons for these rejections (I understand these may include, but not be limited to: issues with the photograph, applicant not being registered to vote, National Insurance number not supplied)

For part D, I am asking for numerical data and not any information that may lead to the identification of an individual. If satisfying part D of the request would exceed the time and resource limits stipulated by the act, please feel free to disregard it.

Response

I refer to your request for information received on 5 April 2023 and would advise you that 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. Katherine Marriott (Chief Executive) is the appointed officer for the registration area of the District of Rushcliffe.  Her appointment as Electoral Registration Officer is separate to her 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 her own personal capacity. See the FOI schedule 1 information.

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.

Therefore, the request you have made is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act and we are unable to provide the information requested.