Further to my query on this list a couple of weeks ago - this is the
response I received from our legal department. Thank you for all your
comments - greatly appreciated.

"There may be no absolutely right answer on this but my argument would be
that the witness signatories provided the information in connection with
securing the legitimacy of the postal ballot process and checking the
validity of those signatories is effectively part of that process. I do not
think that the LRO is divulging that information to an unauthorised third
party i.e.. you. The request of signatories  is being made in his name and
you are effectively acting on his behalf for these purposes and you will
only use the information at his direction in connection with checking the
integrity of the ballot process and for no other purpose.. If it was deemed
to be information for his eyes only then, presumably, that same logic would
dictate that he personally had to open all 40,000 ballot packs himself and
could not appoint staff/ agents to assist!. Although no defence in itself we
will, of course, be acting under the recommendations of the Electoral
Commission and following a practice which has, apparently, been adopted
elsewhere".

Suffice to say we will be doing the checks!

Fiona Musgrave
Information Officer - Strategic and Performance Services
Carlisle City Council
0122 881 7258


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Fiona Musgrave [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2004 2:45 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      [data-protection] Verifying voter and witness declarations
>
> Being in one of the areas "chosen" to partake in postal voting today - we
> have been requested (or should I say our auditors have been requested) to
> carry out checks to verify a signature of the witness to the voter is
> legitimate.
>
> It has been suggested by the Department of Constitutional Affairs that
> this
> could be done by photocopying the declaration and sending it the person
> and
> asking them if they remember signing?
>
> Alternatively checking the Electoral Register documents (forms signed to
> declare who resides in the property and who is eligible to vote) and check
> that the signatures match?
>
> The postal ballot forms do not suggest that anything even remotely like
> this
> will happen! Does anyone have anything to say on this??
>
> Fiona Musgrave
> Information Officer - Strategic and Performance Services
> Carlisle City Council
> 0122 881 7258
>
>
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________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail and its attachments have been created in the knowledge that e-mail is not a 100% secure communications medium. Please be aware of this when replying.

The views and opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of Carlisle City Council.

This e-mail and its attachments may include confidential information and is solely for use by the intended recipient(s). If you have received this e-mail and its attachments in error please notify the sender immediately delete them and do not disclose, copy, distribute or retain any part of them.

Carlisle City Council has scanned this e-mail and its attachments to ensure that they are virus free. The Council can take no responsibility if a virus is actually present and you are advised to make the appropriate checks to confirm that they are virus free.

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