Not eligible for voting. Must we give our data?

stef.steve

consultant31 wrote: »

Having reread your original question, you didn't ask that at all. You merely asked if you have to give them all your data, which was answered by the first two or three respondents.

Actually no, you are incorrect. I was given good reasons for completing the form but I was not told what the law says about completing that form as I expected.

If you choose to live in Britain (or anywhere else for that matter) why can't you follow the rules?

Why do you assume I cannot follow the rules?
I am very much willing to follow the rules, that's why I asked here what the rules are but it seems that nobody knows what the law says about that.
As I explained, as public bodies like to threaten people all the times, the sentence of the city council does not tell me anything really (also because normally, if it is a law, it is mentioned: "in accordance to the .... act <year>, bladi bladi").

Under the present circumstances (with terrorism and the like) it makes sense that we know who is living among us, don't you think?

Yes, as a matter of fact, The city council knows perfectly who we are: they just need to read the land registry and the council tax database, but they do not want to....

So, I feel I have a clean conscience, I pay my taxes, I made by deeds, I just want to know if I really need to take seriously the threat of the city council or not.

I hope this clarify.
Cheers
Stef

stef.steve

ShockingPink wrote: »

Sorry, but no - he died a few years ago! He was nearly attacked by various dogs/burly blokes/feral kids on his rounds though:cool:

:rotfl:

well, luckily we have no kids (feral or not), only cats and are slender Scandinavians otherwise, you would have asked the city council to chase us down....:rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

stef.steve wrote: »

Yes, as a matter of fact, The city council knows perfectly who we are: they just need to read the land registry and the council tax database, but they do not want to....

The Data Protection Act means that they cannot cross-reference the council tax database with the electoral roll database.

If you don't fill the form in to say "No-one here is entitled to vote", how are they supposed to know that no-one at your address is entitled to vote? So they will have to continue sending someone round to try to get the form filled in, so why not give that person a break and do what the form asks?

andygb

Why on earth would any honest person not want to fill this in? It isn't going to cost you anything, ours had a prepaid envelope, and it only required a signature and printed name.

Katie-Kat-Kins

I'll answer the OPs questions seeing as she seems to think no one else has done:

1. Yes it is law that you do have to complete this form.

2. The council have statutory powers to raise fines as a result of legislation known as statutory instruments, so they can fine you if they refuse. Failure to pay the fine will become a criminal offence and you will be taken to the magistrates court, the same as if you refuse to pay fines relating to speeding or car tax.

There is no good reason to refuse to fill in the form, you can request not to go on the edited register so your details aren't passed on.

Savvy_Sue

Actually I don't think the OP will appear on ANY register, edited or unedited, because they are not eligible to vote. My understanding is that the Electoral Roll is what is sold on, ie the Roll of those who are eligible to vote, minus those who have opted out of the public register.

The Electoral Roll is the list of those who are entitled to vote, not a complete database of who lives at each address. But if those who are NOT entitled to vote don't fill the form in, I ask again how the local council is supposed to know that no-one at that address is eligible?

I could be quite wrong about this, however.

System

consultant31 wrote: »

Yes, you're registered as living at the specific address, so if you move next year, you'll have to fill in the forms again (as far as I know anyway).

Ahhh right got you. Better fill it in then!

consultant31

stef.steve wrote: »

Actually no, you are incorrect. I was given good reasons for completing the form but I was not told what the law says about completing that form as I expected.



Why do you assume I cannot follow the rules?
I am very much willing to follow the rules, that's why I asked here what the rules are but it seems that nobody knows what the law says about that.
As I explained, as public bodies like to threaten people all the times, the sentence of the city council does not tell me anything really (also because normally, if it is a law, it is mentioned: "in accordance to the .... act <year>, bladi bladi").



Yes, as a matter of fact, The city council knows perfectly who we are: they just need to read the land registry and the council tax database, but they do not want to....

So, I feel I have a clean conscience, I pay my taxes, I made by deeds, I just want to know if I really need to take seriously the threat of the city council or not.

I hope this clarify.
Cheers
Stef

How long would it take if councils had to check with Land Registry etc for every household in the country? Fill it in, send it in and stop wondering how you can avoid filling it in! What's the problem?

stef.steve

MrsTine wrote: »

Possibly. Bear in mind that unlike a UK citizen you COULD in theory still be removed from the UK if someone decided to make an example of you - even if you don't need a visa and would normally have every right to be here.

uhu?!? Can you make an example? Refer to the law?

stef.steve

KatP wrote: »

I'll answer the OPs questions seeing as she seems to think no one else has done:

Thanks! I do not think. You can read it yourself if they answered me or not.

1. Yes it is law that you do have to complete this form.

Perfect. Can you show me the reference number/name of this law?

2. The council have statutory powers to raise fines as a result of legislation known as statutory instruments, so they can fine you if they refuse.

Never disputed that, someone else did. Instead I asked if they can fine you if they do not know who you are.

There is no good reason to refuse to fill in the form, you can request not to go on the edited register so your details aren't passed on.

The good reason is that the city council is far from being perfect. It makes mistakes, many of them unfortunately, by my experience.

So, until the council (or anyone else) does not show me the reference number/name to that law: 1) nobody can accuse me of or insinuate anything ; 2) The threat I receive from them is just a criminal offence; 3) I am entitled to ignore the form.

This is democracy: You show me the law, I will follow it. No law? I can do otherwise.

Why the council needs to show disrespect to its citizens (UK or not) by writing a threat out of the blue without referencing the law which could make their "threat", a legal procedure?
They do reference others acts, when they want: "according to the data protection act 2000", "according to the freedom of information act", "according to the consumer protection regulation", etc.?

Why they don't do it just in this very same case? Isn't it sufficient to become suspicious?

Anyhow, I did not mean this thread to become a flame. I am an honest citizen, I just expect to be treated honestly and openly too.

As I believe I have made my point more than clear by now (for those who have read my posts), I wont reply to any other post and will patiently wait for the reference of that law.

Thanks to you all for your contributions.