Response 1815552

Response to request for information

Reference

1815552

Response date

19 July 2023

Request

1. Were greeters (i.e. staff positioned outside the polling station to inform potential voters about various issues) used at any polling stations in order to turn people away due to voter ID requirements?
2. If so, at how many polling stations were greeters present out of the total number of polling stations?
3. And if so, did greeters record the number turned away, and if so would it be possible to have that data?
4. Will your council introduce or continue to use greeters to turn people away due to voter ID requirements in the future?
5. Does the council have any further comments they’d like to make on the use of greeters (if so, please include)?

Response

I refer to your request for information received on 7 July 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. A list of public bodies and local authorities that are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act is available.

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 Electoral Services Section have considered your request and, if the information is readily accessible it is provided below:

1. Yes greeters were used at some of our polling stations on occasions to check that voters had voter ID
2. 23 out of 73 polling stations had a greeter at some point during polling day
3. we did not collect this information
4. No decision has been made on this yet
5. No comment to make