District and Parish Council

1
District and Parish Council Elections 3rd May
2007
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Introduction

• RO Wes Lumley
• DROs
• Sarah Sternberg
• Kath Whittingham
• Elections Staff
• Objectives
• Efficient election
• Briefing on significant issues/changes

3
Agenda

• DCI Rick Gooch Fraud Issues
• Election Expenses
• Pre Polling Day Issues
• Polling Day Issues
• Verification and Count
• Questions

4
DCI Rick Gooch, Derbyshire Police Fraud Issues
5
Election Expenses
6
Election expenses

• Limits to expenditure
• 600 5p per Local Government elector
• Election Agent responsible District
• Candidate responsible - Parish

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What counts

• Certain categories advertising, leaflets,
  transport, public meetings, staff and
  accommodation
• Exclusions Candidates own time and services,
  use of candidates home, use of candidates car and
  PC.
• Expenditure on goods and services prior to
  election do count if used in the election.
• Notional payments where offered something free
  or reduced.

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Joint Candidates

• Combined lower spending limits
• Must be in same ward
• Demonstrated by employing same election agent,
  joint hire of rooms etc.

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Time limits

• Within 21 days of declaration of result claims
  must be made to election agent/candidate
• If not, cannot be paid without a court order
• Election Return must be submitted within 35 days
  of the declaration of result otherwise a
  criminal offence is committed for which there is
  a fine of up to 5000.
• Must submit a nil return for no expenditure

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Pre Polling Day
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Candidates Pack

• The pack for each candidate contains
• Guidance for Candidates and Agents, most of this
  is covered in the guidance issued by the
  Electoral Commission
• Guidance Notes on completing election expenses
  forms and returns, including limits.
• Notice of Poll listing candidates and venues for
  polling

12
Candidates Pack

• Notice of Time and Place for Opening of Postal
  Voters Box and Count arrangements
• Secrecy Provisions
• Form to appoint Polling Agents
• Form for the appointment of Count Agent, Agent
  for Opening of Postal Votes and Guest at the
  Count.

13
Candidates Pack

• A copy of the electoral registers for your Ward
  or Parish, except where a cvs file has been
  requested.
• A schedule listing postal vote opening dates and
  times
• For Parish candidates only a form to attend the
  verification of ballot boxes on 3rd May, this may
  be the candidate or an agent.

14
Candidates Pack

• A questionnaire for candidates to feed back on
  the processes and a return envelope.
• All District Councillors have been provided with
  a copy of the Electoral Commissions Guidance to
  Candidates, I have copies available should any
  Parish candidate like a copy.

15
Procedure for Opening Postal Votes

• All postal voters will complete a security
  statement requiring a date of birth and
  signature. This replaces the previous
  declaration of identity.
• Some voters have been granted a waiver because
  they are unable to sign their name consistently
  in the same way, this is usually due to a
  disability, they must however complete their date
  of birth on the security statement.
• All postal votes will be checked to ensure they
  contain the date of birth and signature - unless
  a waiver has been granted. Any that do not will
  be rejected.
• 20 of postal votes opened at each opening
  session will be set aside and the date of birth
  and signature (unless a waiver has been granted)
  will be checked to personal identifiers
  previously supplied to the Electoral Registration
  Officer

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Procedure for Opening Postal Votes

• The Returning Officer and a member of staff
  attending the opening sessions have received
  training from the Forensic Science Service
• Any postal votes where we receive a satisfactory
  security statement but no ballot paper and
  vice-versa will be recorded on lists and should
  the missing part be received by close of poll on
  3rd May these will be matched up and submitted to
  the count.

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Postal Voters Lists

• The close for applications for a postal vote was
  5 p.m. today
• A copy of the lists of postal/proxy voters will
  be supplied to all candidates on 19th April 2007
  this is to assist in your election campaign.
• Postal votes will be issued in the week
  commencing 23rd April.

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Marked copy of the Absent Voters Lists

• The Electoral Administration Act introduced a
  marked copy of the absent voters list. This is a
  list of returned postal votes. Rather like a
  marked copy of the electoral register used in a
  polling station.
• These can be supplied on written request. I
  would suggest that copies are provided on 27th
  April and 1st May. Any candidate wishing copies
  after this date may have them electronically, or
  alternatively collect them from Sherwood Lodge.

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26th April 2007

• This is a key date. Candidates must supply all
  agent appointments to the Returning Officer on
  this date.
• Applications to register as an elector and be
  eligible to vote in these elections received
  between 9th March and 18th April will be allowed.
  A Notice of Alteration will be published
  allowing these to vote. Copies of the Notice of
  Alteration will be provided to candidates from
  27th April 2007.

20
Polling Day
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Polling Hours

• Polling hours have changed and are now 7 a.m. to
  10 p.m.

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Tellers

• No more than one for each candidate or political
  party
• No legal status and voters have the right to
  refuse to give them any information
• Must/Must not
• May

23
Attendance at Polling Stations

• The following are allowed to attend at Polling
  Stations Candidates, Election Agents, Polling
  Agents and Authorised observers.

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Polling Cards

• All registered electors will receive a polling
  card, copies have been displayed around the room
• Voters at polling station will be advised of the
  venue and polling hours.
• Proxy voters will be advised of the venue and
  polling hours and who they are representing.
• New this time a card for postal voters
  informing them that they will receive a postal
  vote (this was introduced this year).

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• Verification
• and Count

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Verification and Count

• Assembly Rooms
• Attendees
• Verification of both on the night, as soon as
  boxes arrive
• District Count on the night, upstairs
  unlikely to start before 11pm
• Parish Next day (Friday), this room
• Candidates etc waiting area

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Verification and Count

• Postal Votes
• Noise levels
• Speeches
• Suspending the count

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• Questions?