FOI request (FOIR-335853333)

Information on Elections

Requested Tue 18 May 2021
Responded  Wed 26 May 2021

1. How many staff did the council have in employment exclusively to work in the elections services team at each of the following elections?

a. General Election 2015

b. General Election 2017

c. General Election 2019

d. May 2021 round of elections

2. What was the total budget for the electoral services team in each of the following years?

a. 2016

a. 2017

a. 2018

a. 2019

a. 2020

a. 2021

3. Could you please provide me with the estimated or actual amount of money spent by the local authority on each of the following items when administering the a) General Election 2015 b) General Election 2017 c) General Election 2019 d) May 2021 elections?

• Printing of Postal Votes

• Distribution of Postal Votes

• Staff time for manning polling stations including 'COVID-19 Ambassadors/Information Officers' to welcome voters

• Hiring Polling Station Venues

• Hiring of Count Venues

• Additional infrastructure to ensure the process was COVID-19 'secure' (eg individual pencils, Perspex screens, hand sanitiser)

4. How many Presiding Officers worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

a. General Election 2015

b. General Election 2017

c. General Election 2019

d. May 2021 round of elections

5. How many Polling Clerks worked on each of the following elections in your council area?

a. General Election 2015

b. General Election 2017

c. General Election 2019

d. May 2021 round of elections

6. How much money was spent on training Presiding Officers and Polling Clerks at each of the following elections?

a. General Election 2015

b. General Election 2017

c. General Election 2019

d. May 2021 round of elections

7. How many 'tendered' ballot papers were issued in your council area for each of the following elections?

a. General Election 2015

b. General Election 2017

c. General Election 2019

d. May 2021 round of elections

8. Were all candidates/parties that were properly nominated on the final ballot paper given to voters at the May 2021 round of elections?

Response

Q1a. 2015 - 4

Q1b. 2017 - 3

Q1c. 2019 - 3

Q1d. 2021 - 3

Q2. Please refer to budget pages on our website: https://www.hastings.gov.uk/my-council/transparency/budgets/

Q3 - Q8. This information is held by the Returning Officer and not Hastings Borough Council. The Returning Officer is exempt from requests for information under Freedom of Information Act. Information relating to elections will only be given where the information is publicly available.