Agenda item
Feedback from Electoral Services
To receive a presentation on IER impact of registration, feedback from the GLA elections and preparations for the EU Referendum.
Minutes:
Will Tuckley, Chief Executive, introduced the item providing an opportunity to give verbal feedback to Members on the recent work of Electoral Services with particular reference to recent elections held in the Borough. He highlighted that this was the first discussion since he had joined the Council and been appointed the Returning Officer by the Commissioners.
He was pleased to report that, thanks to the hard work of the Electoral Services team, the recent Greater London Authority elections had passed smoothly and that this was a tribute to all involved. The team were now engaged in preparation for the European Union Referendum and, again, this was on schedule. Finally he noted that the electoral system was essentially still a Victorian era process with add-ons and that this presented a significant challenge to administer.
Louise Stamp, Head of Electoral Services, then provided Members with more details about a number of areas, starting with the work officers were undertaking on the electoral register. She reported that, after the change to bring in the Individual Electoral Registration process, there had been a significant reduction in registered voters and officers were now working hard to tackle this. Indeed, there had been a 10.53% rise in registrations over the past 6 months. The number of postal votes had also increased to over 34,000. There had also been a large number of online applications, many of which were duplicates that officers had to administer.
In response to questions, Louise Stamp reported that:
· Postal vote applications had to be accepted on their own merits but checks were made at elections, for example on matching signatures.
· Canvassers were not allowed to ask for ID, this had been checked with the Electoral Commission.
· Significant data matching exercises did take place, for example when voters changed address.
· Officers would provide information on the number of young voters.
· The last annual canvass went very well and the new target for this year was to achieve a 90% response.
It was noted that, with a high churn in population and with many not eligible to register, the number on the register would never match the population of the Borough.
Turning to the Greater London Authority elections, Louise Stamp reported that:
· The vote was delivered successfully.
· Many lessons had been learnt from the 2015 elections.
o These lessons would also be applied to the upcoming European Union Referendum.
· The exclusion zones outside polling stations worked well.
· The postal vote rejection rate was down following efforts to collect new signatures.
· A linkup had been arranged with registrars to receive information when residents change their nationality.
Finally, turning to the European Union Referendum, it was noted that:
· There were complications as to voter eligibility with EU voters not being entitled to vote.
· Additional Poll Clerks were available for busy stations/times.
· Postal vote returns were high.
· A high level of communications activity was being undertaken.
· Polling places were reviewed from time to time. Notices should be in place at old locations with directions to new locations.
Following the discussion, Members thanked Louise Stamp and her team for their hard work and dedication in this most important service.
RESOLVED
1. To note the discussion.
Supporting documents: