South Douglas by election

AuthorityCabinet Office
Date received2020-03-09
OutcomeSome information sent but not all held
Outcome date2020-03-20
Case ID1217881

Summary

The requester asked for the specific dates of each stage in the South Douglas by-election process. The Cabinet Office provided a draft timetable but noted that the election was postponed indefinitely following an announcement by the Chief Minister on 16 March 2020.

Key Facts

  • The request was received on 9 March 2020 and responded to on 20 March 2020.
  • A draft timetable for the House of Keys election was provided, outlining 42 days of activities.
  • The Chief Minister announced on 16 March 2020 that the South Douglas by-election would be postponed until further notice.
  • The formal election timeline only commences when the Writ of election is issued by the Lieutenant Governor.
  • The response included information on nomination deadlines, advance voting, and polling day procedures.

Data Disclosed

  • 2020-03-09
  • 2020-03-20
  • 16 March
  • 1217881
  • 42
  • 8am to 8pm
  • 10am
  • 1pm
  • 2pm
  • IM1 3PN

Original Request

Could you please supply with dates of each stage in the process of the South Douglas by election

Data Tables (2)

Day Date Activity/deadline
0 Writ of election to be issued by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and delivered to the Returning Officer
1
2
3
4
5 Publish Notice of Election
6 First day for receipt of nomination papers (from 10am)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13 Last day for receipt of nomination papers ‘Nomination Day’ (until 1pm). Objection period 1pm-2pm
14
15
16
17
18
19 Publish Notice of Poll
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28 Returning Officer to issue Chief Secretary with the list of advance voters
29
30
31
32 Last day for receipt of advance voter applications from outside the Isle of Man
33
34
35 First day for replacement of lost advance voter ballot paper
36 Last day for receipt of advance voter applications within the Isle of Man. Last day for issue of advance voter ballot papers outside the Isle of Man Last day for receipt of proxy applications/revocations
37
38
39 Last day for issue of advance voter ballot papers within the Isle of Man. Electoral Registration Officer to issue a copy of the list of proxies to the Returning Officer Last day for notification of appointment of polling/counting agents
40
41
42 Polling day, 8am to 8pm

Full Response Text

Draft timetable for House of Keys Election Issue of writ:
Polling day:

Day Date Activity/deadline 0

Writ of election to be issued by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and delivered to the Returning Officer 1

2

3

4

5

Publish Notice of Election 6

First day for receipt of nomination papers (from 10am) 7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Last day for receipt of nomination papers ‘Nomination Day’ (until 1pm). Objection period 1pm-2pm 14

15

16

17

18

19

Publish Notice of Poll 20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Returning Officer to issue Chief Secretary with the list of advance voters 29

30

31

32

Last day for receipt of advance voter applications from outside the Isle of Man 33

34

35

First day for replacement of lost advance voter ballot paper 36

Last day for receipt of advance voter applications within the Isle of Man. Last day for issue of advance voter ballot papers outside the Isle of Man Last day for receipt of proxy applications/revocations 37

38

39

Last day for issue of advance voter ballot papers within the Isle of Man. Electoral Registration Officer to issue a copy of the list of proxies to the Returning Officer Last day for notification of appointment of polling/counting agents 40

41

42

Polling day, 8am to 8pm


Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 1217881 20 March 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 9 March 2020 and which states:

"Could you please supply with dates of each stage in the process of the South Douglas by election"

A copy of a draft election timetable is attached. On 16 March the Chief Minister announced that Government will be taking necessary steps to postpone both the 2020 local authority general elections and the Douglas South by-election until further notice.
When His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor issues the Writ of election and it is delivered to the Returning Officer, the timeline for the election will formally commence.

Please quote the reference number 1217881 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another

form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely