Freedom of information response
Voter Authority Certificate
I am looking for information on the percentage of applications for Voter Authority Certificates (VACs) that have been accepted and rejected by the council. I understand these are made in the first instance on the gov.uk website, and then passed on to yourselves to process - and so please take ‘received’ here to mean applications which come to you to be processed.
Please could you tell me:
a. The number of VAC applications received by the council
b. The number of these applications accepted/approved by the council
c. The number of these applications rejected by the council
d. Any numerical breakdown you hold on the reasons for these rejections (I understand these may include, but not be limited to: issues with the photograph, applicant not being registered to vote, National Insurance number not supplied)
For part D, I am asking for numerical data and not any information that may lead to the identification of an individual. If satisfying part D of the request would exceed the time and resource limits stipulated by the act, please feel free to disregard it
An application for a VAC is made to the ERO and not the council. Issued requires the VAC to be printed by the government contracted printer once determined by the ERO. Therefore the council has not issued or rejected any VACs as it is not within their remit to. There is no legal requirement for the ERO to record the total of applications and rejections.
Further information may be found on the Government dashboard https://voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk/performance
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