Electoral Registration Officer / Returning Officer - Privacy Notice

We use this information to enable us to carry out specific functions for which we are responsible and to provide you with a statutory service. These are set out in the Representation of the People Act 1983, Electoral Administration Act 2013, Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 and associated regulations.

The Electoral Registration Officer / Returning Officer is the Data Controller and is registered with the information Commissioner's Office. Registration reference Z858653X. The Data Controller: Dr Caroline Turner, Powys County Council, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 5LG.

What information is recorded?

We keep records about potential and actual electors, details about those that request an election, candidates and their agents, details of those that have subscribed nomination forms, staff employed at an election. These may be written down (manual records), or kept on a computer (electronic records).

These records may include:

Basic details about you, for example, name, address, date of birth, National insurance number, contact details (email address/telephone number - 14 and 15-year-olds will not be contacted by phone or email), signature, nationality and your previous address
Absent vote information (postal / proxy including details of your proxy and anyone who has helped you)
Scanned application forms and dates of any letters of correspondence
Notes about any relevant circumstances that you have told us
Other occupants in your home
If you are over 76 or under 16/17 14/15
Whether you have chosen to opt out of the Open version of the Register (for further information about the Open register www.gov.uk/register-to-vote ). This does not apply to those under 16 who are automatically excluded from the Open register.
Any further evidence we may have required you to provide, such as copies of your passport, EEA identity card, marriage certificate or driving licence
Political affiliation

It is important that your records are accurate and up-to-date as they will help make sure that our staff are able to provide you with the help, advice or support you need. If your information is not correct, then please contact us so that we can rectify this.

What is the information used for?

We will only use the information you give us for electoral purposes. We will look after personal information securely and we will follow the data protection legislation. We will not give personal information about you or any personal information you may provide on other people to anyone else or another organisation unless we have to by law.

The Electoral Register is a public document which can be viewed by appointment only under strict control. The Electoral Register available for public view will not contain the names of 14 to 16-year-olds. It will only contain the names of those that turn 18 in the life of that register.

Your information may be shared / disclosed with the following -

To verify your identity, the data you provide will be processed by the Individual Electoral Registration Digital Service managed by the Cabinet Office. As part of this process your data will be shared with the Department of Work and Pensions and the Cabinet Office suppliers that are data processors for the Individual Electoral Registration Digital Service.
Contracted printer or supplier (processor) who act on our behalf
Registered political parties, elected representatives, town and community councils, candidates, agents and other permitted participants who are able to use it for electoral purposes only
The Council
Credit reference agencies, the British Library, UK Statistics Authority, the Electoral Commission and other statutory recipients of the Electoral Register
Details of whether you have voted (but not how you have voted) to those who are entitled in law to receive it after an election
Where the health and safety of others is at risk
When the law requires us to pass on information under special circumstances
Crime prevention or the detection of fraud as part of the National Fraud Initiative

Anyone who receives information from us has a legal duty to keep it confidential. They won't use it for any other reasons and they have to look after it in the same way.

We are required by law to report certain information to appropriate authorities - for example:

Where a formal court order has been issued.
To law enforcement agencies for the prevention or detection of a crime
To the Jury Central Summoning Bureau indicating those persons who are aged 76 or over and are no longer eligible for jury service

How long for?

The Electoral Registration Officer / Returning Officer is obliged to process your personal data in relation to preparing for and conducting Elections. Your details will be kept and updated in accordance with our legal obligations and in line with statutory retention periods.

Special Categories of personal data

Some of the information that is collected is classified as special category personal data. This is processed for reason of substantial public interest as set out in Representation of the People Act 1983, Electoral Administration Act 2013, Senedd and Elections (Wales) Act 2020 and associated regulations.

Right to Object

You have the right to object to the use of your email address or telephone contact details for the purposes of electoral registration. If you no longer want to be contacted by email or telephone you should contact the Electoral Registration Officer who is the Data Controller to unsubscribe.

Right to be Forgotten

This does not apply when maintaining the electoral register. You cannot ask for your details to be removed from old/historical registers.

How to contact us

To exercise any of your rights under the Data Protection legislation please contact us:

by email - electoral.services@powys.gov.uk
by telephone - 01597 826202
by post - Electoral Services, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5LG

If you are not happy with the response you receive from us, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office at:

ICO Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Telephone: 029 2067 8400

Fax: 029 2067 8399

Email: wales@ico.org.uk

Website: ico.org.uk

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