Electoral roll

[enquirer]

You are required to be on the electoral roll, although you can opt out of the for-sale version.

When the electoral roll cards come round asking you to confirm details, you can tick a box to opt out.

But what if the council routinely ignores the opt out and puts you on the for-sale version? Is there an offence or tort there?

[CleverClogs]

Re: Electoral roll

You are required to be on the electoral roll, although you can opt out of the for-sale version.

When the electoral roll cards come round asking you to confirm details, you can tick a box to opt out.

But what if the council routinely ignores the opt out and puts you on the for-sale version? Is there an offence or tort there?

It would, almost certainly, be maladministration.

[labman]

Re: Electoral roll

I think the difficulty may be that it would be overlooked as de minimis unless it it proven to cause you harm or distress, rather like libel.

[enquirer]

Re: Electoral roll

Yes, I like maladminstration. Thanks.

It's happened several years running to myself and others of my acquaintance, so if it is incompetence, it is of a very high order.

[teaboy2]

Re: Electoral roll

Errr breach of data protection act too, as they can not sell or pass on your personal details without your consent.

[enquirer]

Re: Electoral roll

Errr breach of data protection act too, as they can not sell or pass on your personal details without your consent.

Quite how would that work? After all, the full roll is available for public inspection.

[Bill-K]

Re: Electoral roll

I could be wrong here, but isn't the full roll ONLY available to certain authorities - and NOT the general public. Presumably, it is then restricted to DPA-registered concerns, and thus maybe it is still considered as being with a private domain ?

Just a layman's random thoughts, though...

[teaboy2]

Re: Electoral roll

Quite how would that work? After all, the full roll is available for public inspection.

If you tick the opt-out box your name is removed and/or edited out of the electrol roll (or it is suppose to be, but some authoritys have not been bothering due to cost cutting), therefore no one will see it just your address. As a result they will see your address and the names of others that live their that had not opted-out, but they will not see your name or know that you live there. If you have ticked the box and they do not remove your name and go on to sell or publish the data publicly or by any other means, then they will be doing so without your consent. Sharing a person's data without their consent is a breach of the data protection act 1998.

I could be wrong here, but isn't the full roll ONLY available to certain authorities - and NOT the general public. Presumably, it is then restricted to DPA-registered concerns, and thus maybe it is still considered as being with a private domain ?

Just a layman's random thoughts, though...

No its avaliable for purchases by companies as well now. And i believe the public have access to it too as alot of us will have all heard how someones ex found them by the electrol roll, through companies like 192.com, who also purchase it from the authorities.

[enquirer]

Re: Electoral roll

The full roll is kept by the local authority, usually at the County Library, although some keep it at the Town Hall. Locally kept copies are now a rarity, due to expense. They are legally required to make it available for inspection by anyone on demand.

Due to the decision in a court case a few years ago, they will no longer answer telephone enquiries as to entries. You must turn up in person.

Edited versions (that is to say, after the opt-outs have been removed), can be purchased by anyone. They are quite pricey, however.