Referendum on the UK Parliamentary voting system 5 May 2011
Referendum FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Issues and actions for staff supporting the referendum on the UK Parliamentary voting system – 5 May 2011 Contents
1 How to use this guide
2 Registration
3 Postal and proxy voting
4 How/where to vote
5 Overseas voters
6 Service voters and Crown Servants
7 Access issues
8 The referendum
9 Count, results etc
10 Campaigners
11 The Electoral Commission
12 List of Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories and European Union member states
2 1 How to use this guide
1.1 This publication has been designed as a resource for Counting Officers to support the training and briefing of support staff working on the referendum on the UK Parliamentary voting system on 5 May 2011.
The deadlines included in this document have been calculated using the timetable for a 5 May 2011 A referendum.
1.2 The FAQ guide can be used either as a resource to reinforce key messages from briefing/training sessions for support staff or as an information and reference tool to be used in conjunction with locally produced information sources.
1.3 The material has been designed for staff who do not normally work in the field of elections or referendums and provides basic procedural guidance which can be passed on to members of the public to clarify key issues around the registration and referendum process. Staff are advised to elevate more complex questions to the elections office.
1.4 The guide is designed for use by the following types of staff who may be asked to support the referendum locally:
call centre staff local council reception staff staff working in information centres and one-stop shops
1.5 Staff should be reminded that there are many areas where they are unable to comment and must not show a bias. Therefore, all responses given should be politically neutral and in no way be or be interpreted to be supporting one option or the other. Staff using this document should take care not to stray from the provided answers other than when they have been expressly advised that they may do so by their employer/manager.
1.6 Staff should be given contact details for the elections office in cases where calls are more complicated and cannot be answered by these answers. They should also be given details of the registration forms that they can send out to callers.
3 Registration
Issue/quest Answer Action ion
Am I The elections office Transfer caller to registered at your local the elections office to vote? authority can tell if they need to you. check that they are registered. However, if your If you do not have household filled in the details, provide the annual canvass contact details from form that came www.aboutmyvote.co.u through your door k using the callers between August and postcode or direct November last year them to 0800 3 280 with your details, 280 you should still be Remind callers that registered. registration forms need to be returned You will need to to the elections register again if you office on or before have moved home since Thursday 14 April to then. vote in the referendum. Tell them to download forms from www.aboutmyvote.co.u k or supply any you have if you have been advised to do so.
How do I By filling in a form Send caller to the register to & returning it to elections office if vote in your elections they need to check referendum office, the deadline that they are on the UK for registration is registered Parliamenta Thursday 14 April If they wish, ry voting provide election system See also Am I office contact registered to vote? details (from above. www.aboutmyvote.co.u k or your own instructions) Tell them that registration forms
4 Issue/quest Answer Action ion
need to be returned to the elections office on or before Thursday 14 April. Tell them to download forms from www.aboutmyvote.co.u k or offer to send a form or pass them to the elections office if you have been instructed to do so Missed the You have missed the If they wish to deadline deadline to get on register for future (if caller the register at your elections or calls after current address for referendums, then (Thursday the forthcoming use the information 14 April – referendum on the UK above the Parliamentary voting If they know their registratio system on 5 May 2011. previous postcode, n deadline) However, you can you can search for register now for their old election future elections and office‟s contact referendums if you details by going to wish. www.aboutmyvote.co.u Suggest the caller k. contacts the elections office where they think they should be registered (either now or their old address if they have moved). How do I By filling in a form Process as above. register and returning it to for future your elections referendums office. and elections? However, if you filled in the annual canvass form that came through your door last year and returned it, you do not need to register again. We can check to see if you are on
5 Issue/quest Answer Action ion
the register.
I sent my It can take up to Elevate more complex electoral seven weeks for your queries to the registratio name to be added to elections office. n form in the register. Transfer caller to ages ago the elections office but I‟m The register of if they need to still not electors is usually check that they are on the updated on a monthly registered. register. basis, and there is a If they wish,
cut off date each provide contact month for the receipt details from of forms. If you www.aboutmyvote.co.u missed this date your k. details will be included in the next month‟s update.
However, you will be added to the register in time to vote on 5 May, so long as your registration form was received by the elections office before Thursday 14 April
If you are not sure whether your form was received please contact your elections office.
What are Use information 14 April 2011 is the the monthly provided to give deadline for cut-off details of the registration for the dates? / relevant monthly cut- 5 May referendum. Any off dates: question about a - 10 March for 1 April specific update month‟s cut - 14 April for 26 April off date. update
Am I You can only vote if If they want more
6 Issue/quest Answer Action ion eligible to you are registered. You info, direct them to register to can register if: www.aboutmyvote.co.u vote? k , or use any you are 16 or over contact details you (but you cannot vote have been given. until your 18th birthday) If they don‟t know whether they are a AND citizen of a Commonwealth you are a British, country, refer to Irish, European Union the list of or qualifying Commonwealth Commonwealth citizen countries in section (i.e. you have leave 12 below. to remain or don‟t require leave to If they are a remain) living in the Commonwealth citizen UK. but are unsure whether they have you can also vote if leave to remain or you have registered whether they don‟t as a Service Voter or require leave to Crown Servant posted remain, refer them overseas. to the elections office.
If they don‟t know whether they are a citizen of a European Union member state refer to the list of EU countries in section 12 below
If they wish to register, see above.
After 14 April process as above.
If I pay No. Registration is a council tax separate process am I performed by the automatical elections office at ly your local council.
7 Issue/quest Answer Action ion registered? There are different requirements to be able to register to vote then to pay council tax so one cannot be used to add names to the other.
I‟m a Students may be Offer to give student and entitled to register information on I‟m not at either or both registering to vote sure where their home address (see „How do I I should and their university register to vote) register to (term time) address. above for that vote. However they must information). only vote once at the referendum, not in Remind them of 14 both places. April deadline for registration for 5 May referendum
For more complicated queries give contact details/pass them to the elections office.
I‟ve just Same process as „How turned 18 do I register to and want to vote‟ register.
I‟m Yes. You can make Transfer to homeless / something called a elections office or live on a „declaration of local supply their contact house boat connection‟. You details if you have / caravan / should contact the them. in a mental elections office. Use hospital / www.aboutmyvote.co.u remanded in k if needed. custody, can I register? What are In 2002 new legislation Refer to the the full created the full and Commission‟s and edited the „Who has my personal registers? edited register of details‟ leaflet,
8 Issue/quest Answer Action ion
electors: which can be downloaded from: The full register www.dopolitics.org.u includes the names of k/toolbox- all those registered index/toolbox2/v- to vote in a local z/who-has-my- area and is used for personal-details electoral and limited statutory purposes Elevate more complex only. One of these queries to the purposes is credit elections office. referencing.
The edited register can be sold on to anyone for any purpose and includes the names of all those who have not „opted out‟ of their details being included on it. You can opt out when you register. How do I You will need to Elevate complex find out if contact your queries to the my details elections office at elections office. are on the your local council. edited register If your details are and how to on the edited remove them register and you wish if they to have them removed are? from future versions of this register your elections office will be able to help.
9 2 Postal and proxy voting
Issue/question Answer Action
Who can apply Anyone who is They can download for a postal registered to vote postal forms from vote? in Great Britain. www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or get them from the If you are not yet elections office. registered, you can submit a postal If they wish, provide vote application the address and form alongside your contact details that registration form. you have been given or from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
What is the You must have deadline for returned your applying for a application by not postal vote later than 5 pm on for the 5 May 14 April. referendum?
If someone You have missed the They can download calls after deadline to apply postal and proxy forms 5pm on 14 for a postal vote from April? for the referendum www.aboutmyvote.co.uk on 5 May. or the elections office website may You may be able to have them or can send apply for a proxy one to you (give vote up until 5pm details if you have on 21 April if you them. can‟t attend the polling station. If they wish, provide You will need to the elections office state this reason address and contact on the form. details (use www.aboutmyvote.co.uk You can still apply if you do not have for a postal vote them). for future referendums and
10 Issue/question Answer Action
elections now if you wish.
How do I get a You can download an They can download postal vote? application form postal vote forms from from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, www.aboutmyvote.co. or the elections uk, or get one from office website may the elections have them or can send office. one to you (give details if you have You need to return them). the form to the elections office. If they wish, provide the elections office Remind them of the address and contact deadline (5pm 14 details (use April for 5 May www.aboutmyvote.co.uk referendum). if you do not have them).
I haven‟t You should receive Tell them to contact received my it about a week the local elections postal ballot before the office and ask when paper yet. referendum. they are sending out postal votes if they If it hasn‟t need to know exactly arrived 5 days when the postal votes before polling day, will be sent. or you subsequently lose it, you can Ask them to contact get a replacement the elections office ballot paper in for details of the person from your allowed identification local elections if they need a office, up until replacement postal 5pm on polling day. vote and to arrange a You will need convenient time for identification. the replacement to be made. If you have spoilt your ballot paper or postal voting statement, you can get a replacement until 5pm on polling day. Do not destroy or throw
11 Issue/question Answer Action
away your postal ballot papers. You will need to return them.
For what You can apply for a Escalate to elections period does my specific time office if they require postal vote period, or for a more information. last? permanent one which lasts until you cancel it or move home.
How does the This document will If they wish, provide postal voting arrive in your elections office statement postal vote pack contact details. work? alongside your ballot paper. It must be completed or your vote will not count.
You will need to provide your signature and date of birth. This will be checked against your original application form.
More detailed instructions will be provided in your postal ballot pack, or you can contact your local elections office for more information. Why do I have When you apply for If they want to to give my a postal (or proxy) discuss any aspect of date of birth vote you must postal vote security and signature? provide your date or who has their How is it of birth and personal details secret? signature. further, elevate to elections office. When you get your postal ballot paper
12 Issue/question Answer Action
there will be a separate statement on which you will be asked for the same details. This is for security reasons and the details must match those provided in your application for your vote to be counted.
However, rest assured that the statement is separated from the ballot paper when it is received. This happens before the sealed ballot paper envelope is opened and the vote is counted. This keeps your vote secret; no one will be able to find out how you voted. How secure is It is an offence to Refer on to elections a postal vote? complete a postal office if they want to / Any question vote that is not debate this further. or challenge your own, and to about the intimidate voters. security of If you have any voting. allegations of fraud, they should be referred to the police and/or the elections office.
Special arrangements have been made with the police to ensure the security of this referendum.
I opted for a No problem. You can If they wish, provide
13 Issue/question Answer Action postal vote drop your ballot elections office but I don‟t paper off on contact details. want to post polling day at the it/I‟m too elections office, late to post to your normal it polling station, or to a polling station in your local authority area. Make sure you do it before 10pm on 5 May.
You cannot be given another ballot paper at the polling station.
Contact your local elections office to find out where their office is or for the address of your polling station.
Who can apply To vote by proxy They can download a for a proxy for just one form from vote? referendum or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk election, you must or get one from the have a reason – elections office. e.g. you will be away on holiday, but you will not require an attestation.
Only those with a specific reason such as a disability or being overseas can apply to vote by proxy for a period of time. Contact your local elections office for more information and an
14 Issue/question Answer Action
application form.
See below for deadlines.
What is the deadline for If you are amending As above applying for a an existing proxy proxy vote? vote, you must return your application by no later than 5 pm on 14 April.
New proxy applications must be received by 5pm on 21 April.
You can apply to vote by proxy for emergency medical reasons up until 5pm on 5 May. I‟ve been made It‟s simple to vote If they want to the proxy for as someone‟s proxy. discuss this further, someone and I You will be sent a refer them to the don‟t know how special proxy poll elections office. it works card with details of where you should go to vote.
If you can‟t attend the polling station you can vote as a proxy by post, but you must apply by 5pm on 14 April.
If you are going to the polling station just tell the staff there that you are voting as a proxy and they will tell you what to do.
Don‟t forget to
15 Issue/question Answer Action
take your proxy poll card – this will speed up the ballot paper issuing process.
16 3 How/where to vote
Issue/question Answer Action
Date of 5 May 2011 referendum
How do I find Your poll card If the caller requires out where my should tell you the further information, polling location of your provide contact details for station is? polling station. the elections office.
Alternatively, contact the elections office.
There may have been a review of all the polling places in your area, and your polling station may have been changed as a result. Contact the elections office for more info if you have concerns.
Polling hours? Polling hours are between 7am – 10pm.
What forms of Polling station voting are there? Absent voting: See above for information - by post (no reason on applying. is needed) - by proxy (need to give particular reason for this particular referendum, need to meet certain criteria for a proxy for a period of time)
How does the Managed locally by Elevate any more count work? the Counting complicated queries to the
17 Issue/question Answer Action
Officer, there will elections office. be one per local authority
Once the Counting Officer has a local total it will be sent to a central collation point and all totals added together to form the final result.
How do I fill Information will Elevate any more in the ballot be provided by the complicated queries to the paper? polling clerk at the elections office. polling station or, if you opted to vote by post, it will be in your ballot pack.
My whole This may not If they wish, provide block/street necessarily mean contact details. Use haven‟t had that you cannot www.aboutmyvote.co,uk or their poll vote. contact details you have cards. been given. Check that you are registered (see above)
Report it to the elections office.
If you are registered, you do not need your poll card to vote
18 4 Overseas voters
Issue/questi Answer Action on
Can British British citizens Direct them to citizens living abroad can www.aboutmyvote.co.uk; or living vote at the direct them to elections abroad vote? referendum office for more information. Service voters and Crown Direct to Servants www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or stationed elections office for more overseas can vote information. (see next section).
19 5 Service voters and Crown Servants
Issue/question Answer Action
I am in the Service personnel Provide contact details. Armed Forces and their spouses More info at (Army, Navy or or civil partners www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. RAF) posted posted abroad can abroad. How do register to vote Service voter I register to through making a registration form can be vote? service downloaded from declaration, which www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. is available to download from the Remind them of the 14 Commission‟s April deadline. website, or we can send you one if you don‟t have access to the internet.
You can register at the address in the UK where you would be living if not posted overseas or at an address where you have lived in the past.
Service declaration forms should be sent to the elections office for the area where you wish to register.
I am in the Service personnel Supply contact details of Armed Forces and their spouses elections office. More info living in the or civil partners also available from UK how do I have the option of www.aboutmyvote.co.uk register to making a service vote? declaration as
20 Issue/question Answer Action
above, or can opt Service voter to register to registration form can be vote in the downloaded from traditional way www.aboutmyvote.co.uk (as described in the registration Offer to send a form if section) they can‟t get one from the internet.
Remind them of the 14 April registration deadline. I am a Service Service voters and Refer to voter, what their spouses or www.aboutmyvote.co.uk methods of civil partners can website where Service voter voting are vote in person or forms can be downloaded available to can opt to vote by me? post or proxy. Remind them of the 5pm 14 April deadline for receipt Postal votes are of postal vote applications only sent out and the 5pm 21 April about a week deadline for a new proxy before the vote. If they already have referendum. If you a proxy vote but want to are living abroad change it, they need to do it is advisable this by 5pm 14 April. that you appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf as there is unlikely to be enough time for postal votes to reach you and be sent back before close of poll.
However, there is a program that aims to get postal votes into certain theatres of operations. Contact the elections office if you are interested in this.
21 Issue/question Answer Action
I work in a UK If you are working provide contact details embassy / for outside the UK as the EU / for a Crown Servant or Crown servant voter the UN, and am as an employee of registration form can be based the British downloaded from overseas. How Council, you can www.aboutmyvote.co.uk do I register still register to to vote? vote. You can also Remind them of the 14
register if you April registration are married to or deadline. are the civil partner of a Crown Servant or British Council employee and you are accompanying them during their employment abroad.
You will need to complete a Crown Servant registration form, which is available to download from the Commission‟s website.
I am a Crown Crown Servant Refer to Servant, what voters and their www.aboutmyvote.co.uk methods of spouses or civil website where Crown Servant voting are partners can vote voter forms can be available to in person or can downloaded. me? opt to vote by post or proxy. Remind them of the 5pm 14 April deadline for receipt Postal votes are of postal vote applications only sent out and the 5pm 21 April about a week deadline for a new proxy before the vote. If they already have referendum, if a proxy vote but want to you are living change it, they need to do abroad it is this by 5pm 14 April. advisable that you appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf as
22 Issue/question Answer Action
there is unlikely to be enough time for postal votes to reach you and be sent back before close of poll.
23 6 Access issues
Issue/question Answer Action
What provision Local If they wish, provide is made for authorities contact details for the people with have to comply elections office. disabilities? with the Disability Discrimination Act and other laws. See further details below.
What Tactile voting If they wish, provide provisions are templates and contact details for the made for blind large print elections office. or visually versions of impaired ballot papers voters? are available at all polling stations.
You can take a companion with you (close relative or elector qualified to vote at the referendum) to assist you, or ask the presiding officer at the polling station for help.
What provision Ballot papers Direct to the Commission‟s is there for cannot be leaflet Easy-read guide to non-English printed in voting speakers? languages www.dopolitics.org.uk/toolb other than ox-index/toolbox2/d-f/easy- English. read-guide-to-voting
However, there Registration and postal
24 Issue/question Answer Action
may be voting leaflets are guidance notes available in a number of in other different languages from languages. the Electoral Commission. These may be They are only available to available in order, so please ring the the polling Commission on 0845 8500 station. 501. A catalogue of all the materials available can be found at www.dopolitics.org.uk.
What provision Each polling If they wish, provide is there for station is contact details for the wheelchair different. You elections office. users? can obtain more details from the elections office, or look for details on your poll card.
Alternatively, you could apply for a postal vote, to allow you to vote from home; or nominate a proxy to vote on your behalf.
What about I can give you Provide contact details for access issues contact the elections office. for postal details of the voters? elections office, who will be able to discuss this with you.
25 7 The referendum in your area
Issue/question Answer Action
Where is the The referendum is If they wish, provide referendum taking place across elections taking place? the UK office/Electoral Commission contact details.
What is the The referendum If they wish, provide referendum question is „At elections office question? present, the UK contact details. uses the “first past the post” system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the “alternative vote” system be used instead?‟
Voters have one vote and should mark a cross (X) in either the „yes‟ or the „no‟ box on the ballot paper.
If they require more information refer them to the Electoral Commission website. www.aboutmyvote.co. uk.
Where can I The Electoral Provide the Electoral get info about Commission provides Commission contact the referendum information on the details 0800 3 280 280 options or the referendum question or yes/ no www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. campaigns? The Electoral Commission‟s website provides information.
26 Issue/question Answer Action
www.aboutmyvote.co.uk
The Electoral Commission will send you impartial information in a booklet to each household
Campaigners in the referendum will explain why they think you should vote „yes‟ or „no‟. They will communicate through leaflets, TV, the radio, newspapers and websites
27 8 Count, results, etc
Issue/question Answer Action
When will the The votes will Give Electoral result be be counted on Commission website announced? the day after and/or telephone the poll from details 4pm and www.aboutmyvote.co.uk completed as or 0800 3 280 280 soon as possible. If they wish, provide contact details for the The result will elections office. be shown on the Electoral Commission website: aboutmyvote.co.u k
The elections office locally may also have information and results What about Any designated If they wish, provide recounts? counting agent contact details for the can request a elections office. If you re-count at the do have the details go to local count on www.aboutmyvote.co.uk certain grounds.
It is the responsibility of the Counting Officer to decide if a re- count is necessary.
28 9 Campaigners
Issue/questi Answer Action on
What is a Campaigners in More complex queries campaigner referendums are refer on to the in a defined by the law as Electoral Commission. referendum? permitted www.electoralcommission. participants. org.uk These can be Or 0800 3 280 280 individuals or organisations that campaign for a How do I particular outcome in become a a referendum. permitted participant? In certain circumstances campaigners must register with us and then comply with controls on their spending and donations under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA).
An individual or organisation may apply
Refer to campaigners‟ guidance on Electoral Commission website www.electoralcommis sion.org.uk/guidanc e/those-we-regulate
If they have further questions, refer to the Electoral Commission.
29 10 The Electoral Commission
Issue/questio Answer Action n What is The An independent If they want further Electoral body, not part of information, direct them Commission? government, whose to, aim is to increase www.electoralcommission.o public confidence rg.uk in the democratic Or 0800 3 280 280. system and knowledge of elections and referendums.
For this referendum it will: comment on the intelligibility of the referendum question register organisations or in dividuals who want to campaign in the referendum (known as „permitted participants‟) monitor and report on referendum campaign spending appoint organisations as the lead campaigners or „designated organisations‟ for each referendum outcome ensure that designated organisations (if appointed) have access to certain assistance
30 report on the administration of the referendum
31 11 List of Commonwealth countries, British Overseas Territories and European Union member states
Commonwealth countries
Antigua and Kenya Samoa Barbuda Australia Kiribati Seychelles The Bahamas Lesotho Sierra Leone Bangladesh Malawi Singapore Barbados Malaysia Solomon Islands Belize Maldives South Africa Botswana Malta Sri Lanka Brunel Darussalam Mauritius Swaziland Cameroon Mozambique United Republic of Tanzania Canada Namibia Tonga Cyprus Nauru Trinidad and Tobago Dominica New Zealand Tuvalu Fiji Islands Nigeria Uganda The Gambia Pakistan United Kingdom Ghana Papua New Guinea Vanuatu Grenada Rwanda Zambia Guyana St. Kitts and Nevis Zimbabwe India St Lucia Jamaica St Vincent & The Grenadines
British Overseas Territories
Anguilla Montserrat Bermuda Pitcairn Island British Antarctic Territory St Helena British Indian Ocean St Helena dependencies (Ascension Territory Island, Tristan da Cunha) British Virgin islands Cayman Islands South Georgia and the South Islands
32 Falkland Islands Turks and Caicos Islands Gibraltar
European Union member states
Austria Germany The Netherlands Belgium Greece Poland Bulgaria Hungary Portugal Cyprus * Ireland * Romania Czech Republic Italy Slovakia Denmark Latvia Slovenia Estonia Lithuania Spain Finland Luxembourg Sweden France Malta * United Kingdom *
* Also Commonwealth countries or Ireland, citizens of which can vote in all elections and referendums
33