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User Guide for Post poll data collection General Election 2019

The way the electoral commission is collecting electoral administrative data is changing. We are asking you to submit a reduced set of data to us via an online platform rather than returning data to us in excel. We are changing the process to make it easier for everyone involved. The volume of requested data is smaller and submitting it is easier. For information, the data requested for the 2019 UK Parliamentary general election is set out below. We have, as usual, shared this with your EMS supplier to allow them to develop any necessary reports in the system. As soon as you receive your registration email (on the 18/12/2019) we would appreciate it if you carry out stages 1-4 below. You don’t need any information that you need to look up in order to register, set up a password and select constituencies. They should not take you more than a couple of minutes. The deadline for final post poll data submission is 17.01.2020.

Setting up your account

The first step will be to register on the new system:

1. You will receive a registration e-mail

. You should receive an email on 18/12/2019 to your local authority election email address (see from page 9 for the list of generic email addresses that we are sending emails) from [email protected]. . To create your account please click on the link in the email. . Note that if you have not received an email it could be in the spam/ junk email address (of your election services email address). . If you have not received the email then then please email [email protected]

2. Setting up a password . You will be asked to set up a password for your account. Note the complexity requirement for the password specified on the page. . Please note: If others in your department need access to the system please share the password details with them.

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3. Log-in . You will then be redirected to the log-in page after you register (this is also the page where you will be able to log-in in the future). . Your username will be the email address that received the registration email on (e.g. [email protected]). Note it might be the case that multiple different email addresses are received into one mail box with a different name. If this is the case please see the end of this guide where all usernames/ email addresses are listed. . Forgotten password? From this log-in page you can select ‘Forgot your password’ to create a new password.

4. Selecting the constituencies . The first time you login you will see the ‘Select Constituencies’ screen. . We need you to select the constituency or constituencies for which you are responsible for collecting electoral data. If you have joint electoral services with another local authority then we will need you to include all constituencies from both local authorities under a single account. . On the left of the screen is a list of constituencies which you can either use the search text box or use the arrow toggles to look through the list of constituencies. . You can either: o Double click on the constituency to select o Click on the constituency name and then click on ‘Select’ . Please note: Don’t worry if your other constituency appears to disappear when you search for another constituency it will remember any constituency selected. . Once you have finished selecting all of your constituencies click ‘Next’ (at the bottom of the page) to proceed. . Please note: Don’t worry if you click ‘Next’ before you have finished adding constituencies. On the next page you can click on ‘Manage constituencies’ to return to the selection page.

Completing and submitting the data

You are now able to add data for any selected constituencies. 5. Post-Poll Response Dashboard . After you have selected the constituency you will see a dashboard which includes all your selected constituencies.

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. If all your constituencies which your local authority works are not shown then click on ‘Manage constituencies’ to go back to the ‘Select Constituencies’ page. . To enter the data for a constituency click on ‘Create response’.

6. Filling in data – Post-poll response . There are 5 different question areas: Electorate & Votes counted, Postal Ballots, Proxies & Waivers, Registration and Misc. . You can fill in the questions in any order you want. You can click on the category names on the left-hand side of the screen to change categories it will automatically save what you have entered when you go to a new page. . For all fields you have the option to: Select if you have any doubts over the data being accurate. If you select this please explain in the open text box provided what makes you unsure about the data. . For some fields you will have the option to say that: we do not have the data. Also if you could explain why you do not collect this data in the text box that will appear. . If you want to log out at any stage just click on ‘Save as draft’ at the bottom of the ‘Post-poll response’ screen.

Logic Checks

 There are logic checks to ensure that all answers are valid.

 Next to the category names on the left hand-side a tick or cross will be displayed according to whether it’s passed the logic check (this will only happen once you click next). If you then click back on this category it will tell you below the answer box why it failed the check.

 If you think you have a legitimate answer which is deemed illegitimate please contact the electoral commission at [email protected]

7. Submitting the data

. When you have finished entering data and are ready to submit then a new option should appear which says Finalise Data Submission. Select this. . If you scroll down on the summary page if you have passed all the logic checks then you will get the option to submit data.

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. Once you have submitted data you will go back to the Post Poll response dashboard & have the opportunity to fill out for any other constituencies you might have.

Frequently asked questions

Why are you emailing the registration links to generic email addresses and not to named individuals?

We are sending the links to these addresses (eg [email protected]) because this email will be the one which receives reminders and follow up messages (for issues such as forgotten passwords). If these messages were only sent to a named individual in each elections team it might mean that they are missed or inaccessible to other members of the team. Using the generic emails (listed below) should allow teams to share access to the portal as well as to see the communications we send. It also hopefully avoid issues where individual members of staff change roles or leave the organisation.

When can you fill in the data?

As soon as you have the data. You don’t have to fill all the data in one go, the platform will save your responses. You will receive periodic email reminders until the full dataset has been submitted.

When is the deadline for data submission?

The deadline for submitting the data is Friday 17th January 2020. What do you do if you receive an email telling you that your data has been rejected? The email should tell you for what reason the data has been rejected. It will include a link for you to click on to login to the portal. You will then need to resubmit your data to us even if you are reconfirming your previous answers (you won’t need to re-enter the answers). You keep receiving reminders but you have already filled in the data for the constituency that you fill in You will continually get reminders until the data has been submitted for all constituencies in your local authority. Even if you fill in data for one constituency you will still get reminders until all linked constituencies data is submitted.

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Can I send my data in another format for the electoral commission to enter in the portal? No we will not accept the data in any other format. You will need to enter in the data for all the constituencies that your local authority is responsible for. How do I go back to the portal to fill in any outstanding data? Here is a link or you will find the link on the data collection section of the website.

Where do I send my Form K?

Our focus will be the collection of the data requested via the new platform. However, you will still be able to return completed Form Ks to the Commission in the usual way (by emailing [email protected]).

Further information

If you have any problems using the system or any questions not answer by this user guide. Please contact us at [email protected] or on 020 7271 0542 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).

List of data fields to be collected (on the data portal)

Electorate & votes counted Explanation The number of registered electors in this 1 Electorate constituency on the day of the election. The number of valid votes cast in this 2 Valid ballot papers constituency (ie not including any rejected counted ballots)

Ballot papers Rejected Ballot papers rejected - Ballot rejected as it does not bear the official 3 No official mark mark (not the unique identifying mark) Ballot papers rejected - 4 Voting for more Ballot rejected as votes are given for more candidates than one candidate Ballot papers rejected - Ballot rejected as something is written or Writing or mark by which marked by which the voter can be identified 5 the voter could be (except the printed ballot paper number or identified other unique identifying mark) Ballot papers rejected - Ballot rejected as its unmarked or void for 6 Unmarked uncertainty This is non applicable for a general election and so you need to type in 0. A ballot paper 7 Ballot papers rejected - can be rejected in part if more than one Rejected in part candidate is to be elected. In the case of a

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general election this is not the case so it is impossible.

Total number of ballot 8 papers rejected at the Is a sum of fields 3-7 and represents all ballots count rejected at the count

Postal Ballots This refers to the number of postal votes Total number of postal issued (including postal proxies). Do not 9 ballot papers initially include any replacements issued for lost and issued spoilt postal ballot papers. Postal ballot papers which were returned in Envelope A on polling day in time to be verified, including: The regular Royal Mail 10 Total number of postal delivery, The final Royal Mail sweep, Handed ballot papers returned by in at a polling station. Do not include postal close of poll ballot packs returned without the ballot paper Total number of postal ballot papers returned Postal ballots which were returned in Envelope 11 within 24 hours after A within the 24 hour period after the close of close of poll poll by any method. The number of ballot papers from all postal vote openings which were included in the 12 Total number of postal count (i.e. all those ballot papers for which ballot papers included in there was a corresponding postal voting the count of ballot papers statement returned which was not rejected). Date of first dispatch for Please enter the day that overseas postal 13 overseas postal votes votes were actually sent out.

Rejected Postal Ballots Total number of postal voting statements Only include those statements which included 14 rejected due to a missing a date of birth but were missing a signature signature where one was required. Total number of postal voting statements Only include those statements which included 15 rejected due to a date of a signature but were missing a date of birth birth where one was required. Total number of postal voting statements 16 rejected due to a missing Only include those statements which were signature AND date of missing BOTH a signature AND a date of birth birth where the identifiers were required. Total number of postal voting statements Statements on which both a signature and a 17 rejected due to a date of birth were given, and the signature only mismatched signature did not match the personal identifiers record.

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Total number of postal Statements on which both a signature and a voting statements date of birth were given and the date of birth 18 rejected due to a only did not match the personal identifiers mismatched date of birth record. Total number of postal voting statements 19 rejected due to a Statements on which BOTH a signature and a mismatched signature date of birth were given, and neither matched AND date of birth the personal identifiers record. Statements marked provisionally rejected because there was no accompanying ballot 20 Rejected- Ballot paper paper, and which could not be matched by the unreturned end of the final postal vote opening. Ballot papers marked provisionally rejected because there was no accompanying postal 21 voting statement, and which could not be Rejected- Postal voting matched by the end of the final postal vote statement unreturned opening.

Proxies & Waivers Total number of proxies The number of electors who appointed a proxy 22 appointed for these (including an emergency proxy) for this elections election. Total number of emergency proxies 23 appointed for these The number of electors who appointed an elections emergency proxy for this election. Total number of waivers Postal vote statements issued which required 24 granted for these only the date of birth of the elector to be stated elections because a waiver was granted.

Registration

25 Total number of Applications to register to vote received applications received in between 27/10/2019 & 05/11/2019. Changes time to be processed for to voting preference/opt-out status should be the first interim notice of treated as an application if the request was alteration submitted through an application to register. Total number of Applications to register to vote received applications received between 06/11/2019 and 26/11/2019. This will between the last date for identify all applications received since the cut- 26 applications for the first off for the first alteration notice and the last interim notice of alteration date for applications for the first interim notice and last date for of alteration and last date for applications for applications for the final the final notice of alteration. Changes to voting notice of alteration preference/opt-out status should be treated as 7

an application if the request was submitted through an application to register.

Electors added to the register from when the election was called (27/10/2019) up to and including the publication of the first interim notice of alteration (14/11/2019). Includes all new electors (i.e. those who were not on the register at all before) added through 27 any mechanism. Includes movers within the authority and from outside the authority. Total number of new Includes electors added and subsequently electors added to the removed within this period. Excludes attainers register via the first (i.e. those who have not reached the age of 18 interim notice of alteration at E-6). Excludes duplicates. Electors added to the register via the second interim notice of alteration and final interim notice of alteration. Includes all new electors (i.e. those who were not on the register at all before) added through 28 any mechanism. Includes movers within the Total number of new authority and from outside the authority. electors added to the Includes electors added and subsequently register via the second removed within this period. Excludes attainers and final notices of (i.e. those who have not reached the age of 18 alteration at E-6). Excludes duplicates. A duplicate is where an application can be matched to an individual already on the register at the same address. Total number of duplicate Changes to voting preference/opt-out status 29 applications received in should be treated as a duplicate if the request time to be processed for was submitted through an application to the first interim notice of register. Should be between 27/10/2019 and alteration 05/11/2019. Total number of duplicate applications received between the last date for applications for the first A duplicate is where an application can be 30 notice of alteration (6th matched to an individual already on the November) and last date register at the same address. Changes to for applications for the voting preference/opt-out status should be final notice of alteration treated as a duplicate if the request was (26th November). submitted through an application to register.

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Total number of overseas The number of overseas electors registered to electors registered vote in this constituency Misc The total number of different polling stations that have been used in this election. If one 32 Total number of polling venue has two polling stations then it counts as stations used two polling stations. Total number of tendered The number of tendered ballot papers that 33 ballot papers issued have been issued in this constituency. Who is your EMS 34 provider? Includes a list of all the main EMS providers

List of the contact details we will be sending registration emails to

Email address that will receive emails on electoral Local Authority data/ Username

Aberdeen City Council [email protected]

Aberdeenshire Council [email protected]

Adur District Council elections@adur-.gov.uk Allerdale Council [email protected] Amber Valley Borough Council [email protected]

Angus Council [email protected]

Argyll and Bute Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Ashfield District Council [email protected] Ashford Borough Council [email protected] Aylesbury Vale District Council [email protected] Babergh District Council [email protected] London Borough of Barking and Dagenham [email protected] London Borough of Barnet [email protected] Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Barrow-in-Furness Borough Council [email protected] Basildon Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Bassetlaw District Council [email protected] Bath & North East Somerset Council [email protected] [email protected] London Borough of Bexley [email protected] Birmingham City Council [email protected] Blaby District Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council Angela.O'[email protected] Bolsover District Council [email protected] Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Boston Borough Council [email protected] Christchurch & Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Bradford Council [email protected] Braintree District Council [email protected] Breckland Council [email protected] London Borough of Brent [email protected] Brentwood Borough Council [email protected] Bridgend County Borough Council [email protected] 9

Brighton and Hove Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Broadland District Council [email protected] London Borough of Bromley [email protected] Bromsgrove District Council [email protected] Broxbourne Borough Council [email protected] Broxtowe Borough Council [email protected] Burnley Borough Council [email protected] Bury Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Caerphilly County Borough Council [email protected] Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Cambridge City Council [email protected] London Borough of Camden [email protected] Cannock Chase District Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Cardiff County Council [email protected] Carlisle City Council [email protected] Carmarthenshire County Council [email protected] Castle Point Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Ceredigion County Council [email protected] Charnwood Borough Council [email protected] Chelmsford City Council [email protected] Cheltenham Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Cheshire West and Chester City [email protected] Chesterfield Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Chiltern District Council [email protected] Chorley Borough Council [email protected] City of London Corporation [email protected]

Clackmannanshire Council [email protected] Colchester Borough Council [email protected]

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar [email protected] Conwy County Borough Council [email protected] Copeland Borough Council [email protected] Corby Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Cotswold District Council [email protected] Coventry City Council [email protected] Craven District Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Croydon [email protected] Dacorum Borough Council [email protected] Darlington Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Daventry District Council [email protected] Denbighshire County Borough Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Derbyshire Dales District Council [email protected] Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] District Council [email protected]

Dorset Council [email protected] Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected]

Dumfries and Galloway Council [email protected]

Dundee City Council [email protected] [email protected] London Borough of Ealing [email protected]

East Ayrshire Council [email protected] East Cambridgeshire District Council [email protected] East District Council [email protected]

East Dunbartonshire Council [email protected]

East District Council [email protected] East Hertfordshire District Council [email protected] East Lindsey District Council [email protected]

East Lothian Council [email protected] East Northamptonshire Council [email protected]

East Renfrewshire Council [email protected] Council [email protected] East Staffordshire Borough Council [email protected] East Suffolk Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Eastleigh Borough Council [email protected] Eden District Council [email protected]

City of Edinburgh Council [email protected] Elmbridge Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Enfield [email protected] Epping Forest District Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Erewash Borough Council [email protected] Exeter City Council [email protected]

Falkirk Council [email protected] Fareham Borough Council [email protected] Fenland District Council [email protected]

Fife Council [email protected] Flintshire County Council [email protected] & Hythe District Council [email protected] Forest of Dean District Council [email protected] Fylde Borough Council [email protected] Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Gedling Borough Council [email protected]

Glasgow City Council [email protected] Gloucester City Council [email protected] 10

Gosport Borough Council electoralregistration@.gov.uk Gravesham Borough Council [email protected] Great Yarmouth Borough Council [email protected] Royal Borough of Greenwich [email protected] Guildford Borough Council [email protected] Gwynedd Council [email protected] London Borough of Hackney [email protected] [email protected] Hambleton District Council [email protected] London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham [email protected] Harborough District Council [email protected] London Borough of Haringey [email protected] Harlow District Council [email protected] Harrogate Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Harrow [email protected] Council [email protected] Hartlepool Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Havant Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Havering [email protected] Council [email protected] Hertsmere Borough Council [email protected] High Peak Borough Council [email protected]

Highland Council [email protected] London Borough of Hillingdon [email protected] Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] London Borough of Hounslow [email protected] Huntingdonshire District Council [email protected] [email protected]

Inverclyde Council [email protected] Ipswich Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Council of the [email protected] London Borough of Islington [email protected] Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [email protected] Kettering Borough Council [email protected] King's Lynn & West Norfolk [email protected] Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames [email protected] Kingston-upon-Hull City Council [email protected] Kirklees Metropolitan Council [email protected] Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Lambeth [email protected] Lancaster City Council [email protected] Leeds City Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Council [email protected] London Borough of Lewisham [email protected] Lichfield District Council [email protected] Lincoln City Council [email protected] Liverpool City Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Maldon District Council [email protected]

Malvern Hills District Council [email protected] Manchester City Council [email protected] Mansfield District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Melton Borough Council [email protected] Mendip District Council [email protected] Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Merton [email protected] Mid Devon District Council [email protected] Mid Suffolk District Council [email protected]

Mid Sussex District Council [email protected] Middlesbrough Borough Council [email protected]

Midlothian Council [email protected] [email protected]

Mole Valley District Council [email protected] Monmouthshire County Council [email protected]

Moray Council [email protected] Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected]

Newark & Sherwood District Council [email protected] Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council [email protected] Newcastle City Council [email protected] London Borough of Newham [email protected] Newport City Council [email protected]

North Ayrshire Council [email protected] North Devon District Council [email protected] N.E. Derbyshire District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] North Hertfordshire District Council [email protected]

North Kesteven District Council [email protected]

North Lanarkshire Council [email protected] Council [email protected] North Norfolk District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] North Tyneside Council [email protected] North Warwickshire Borough Council [email protected] North West Leicestershire District Council [email protected] Northampton Borough Council [email protected] County Council [email protected] Norwich City Council [email protected] 11

Nottingham City Council [email protected] Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council [email protected] Oadby & Wigston District Council [email protected] Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected]

Orkney Islands Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Pembrokeshire County Council [email protected] Pendle Borough Council [email protected]

Perth & Kinross Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Powys County Council [email protected] Preston City Council [email protected] [email protected] London Borough of Redbridge [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Redditch Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected]

Renfrewshire Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames [email protected] Richmondshire District Council [email protected] Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Rochford District Council [email protected] Rossendale Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Rugby Borough Council [email protected] Runnymede Borough Council [email protected] Rushcliffe Borough Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] County Council [email protected] Ryedale District Council [email protected] Salford City Council [email protected] Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Scarborough Borough Council [email protected]

Scottish Borders Council [email protected] Sedgemoor District Council [email protected] Isle of Anglesey County Council [email protected] Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Selby District Council [email protected] District Council [email protected] Sheffield City Council [email protected]

Shetland Islands Council [email protected] County Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Somerset West & Taunton Council [email protected]

South Ayrshire Council [email protected] South District Council [email protected] South Cambridgeshire District Council [email protected] South Derbyshire District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] South Hams District Council [email protected] South Holland District Council [email protected] South Kesteven District Council [email protected] South Lakeland District Council [email protected]

South Lanarkshire Council [email protected] South Norfolk District Council [email protected] South Northamptonshire Council [email protected] South District Council [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] South Somerset District Council [email protected] South Staffordshire District Council [email protected] South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] City Council [email protected] Southend-on-Sea Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Southwark [email protected] Spelthorne Borough Council [email protected] St Albans City & District Council [email protected] St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Stafford Borough Council [email protected] Staffordshire Moorlands District Council [email protected] Stevenage Borough Council [email protected]

Stirling Council [email protected] Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council [email protected] Stoke on Trent City Council [email protected] Stratford on Avon District Council [email protected] Stroud District Council [email protected] Sunderland City Council [email protected] Heath Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Sutton [email protected] Swale Borough Council [email protected] Swansea County Council [email protected] [email protected] Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Tamworth Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Taunton Deane Borough Council [email protected] Teignbridge District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Tendring District Council [email protected] 12

Test Valley Borough Council [email protected] Tewkesbury Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Three Rivers District Council [email protected] Council [email protected] and Malling Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Torfaen County Borough Council [email protected] Torridge District Council [email protected] London Borough of Tower Hamlets [email protected] Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Tunbridge Wells Borough Council [email protected] Uttlesford District Council [email protected] Vale of Glamorgan Council [email protected] District Council [email protected] Wakefield Metropolitan District Council [email protected] Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] London Borough of Waltham Forest [email protected] London Borough of Wandsworth [email protected] Borough Council [email protected] Warwick District Council [email protected] Watford Borough Council [email protected] Waverley Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Wellingborough Borough Council [email protected] Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council [email protected] West Council [email protected] West Devon Borough Council [email protected]

West Dunbartonshire Council [email protected] West Borough Council [email protected] West Lindsey District Council [email protected]

West Lothian Council [email protected] District Council [email protected] West Suffolk Council [email protected] City of Westminster [email protected] Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council [email protected] Council [email protected] Winchester City Council [email protected] Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead [email protected] Wirral Metropolitan Borough of [email protected] Woking Borough Council [email protected] Wokingham Borough Council [email protected] Wolverhampton City Council [email protected]

[email protected] Worcester City Council Wrexham County Borough Council [email protected] Wychavon District Council [email protected] Wycombe District Council [email protected] Wyre Borough Council [email protected] Wyre Forest District Council [email protected] City Council [email protected]

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