The legal basis for processing your data
We will process your personal data based on the lawful basis provided by Articles 6 and 9 of the UK GDPR.
The collection and retention of data from individuals and inspection of other council records is governed by legislation (including):
- Local Government Act 1972
- Representation of the People Act 1983
- Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulation 2001
- Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulation 2002
- European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004
- Electoral Administration Act 2006
- Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 2006
- Greater London Authority Election Rules 2007
- European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009
- The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (England and Wales) Amendment Rules 2011
- Greater London Authority Elections (Amendment) Rules 2012
- Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) Regulations 2012
- The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013
- Electoral Registration (Disclosure of Electoral Registers) Regulations 2013
- Representation of the People (Annual Canvass) (Amendment) Regulations 2019
- Elections Act 2022
- The Voter Identification Regulations 2022
The law makes it compulsory to provide information to an ERO when requested. This is for the compilation and maintenance of an accurate electoral register. Records are kept for:
- potential electors who need to register to vote
- non-eligible citizens so we can stop inviting them to register
- electors who have registered to vote.
Returning Officers have statutory duties to collect and retain information from:
- candidates and their agents
- staff employed at an election
- voters.
This information may be kept in either digital format (ie data within a software system or as scanned copies of documents) or hard copy printed format or both.