Election Eligibility

Authority	Cabinet Office
Date received	2025-03-19
Outcome	Information not held
Outcome date	2025-04-01
Case ID	4526221

Summary

A request was made for correspondence regarding candidate eligibility between the Cabinet Office and Port Erin Commissioners from January 2022 to April 2025. The Cabinet Office responded that it does not hold the requested information, noting that such queries are often resolved via unrecorded telephone calls.

Key Facts

The Cabinet Office confirmed it does not hold the requested correspondence.
Candidate eligibility is typically referenced in publicly available guidance documents.
Communication regarding election queries often occurs via telephone without a written record.
The requester was advised to contact Port Erin Commissioners directly for further information.
The request was formally closed on 1 April 2025.

Data Disclosed

4526221
2025-03-19
2025-04-01
1st Jan 2022
IM1 3PN
IM9 6AN
01624 686244

Original Request

Please provide copies of any correspondence between the Cabinet Office Crown & Election Team and Port Erin Commissioners or the appointed Deputy Returning Officer for the Port Erin local authority area with regard the eligibility of nominated candidates in the employ of another local authority. In order to limit the search please confine to the period since 1st Jan 2022 to date.

Data Tables (3)

We	do no	t hold						tween	the	Cabinet O			ffice,			&			t	eam
and	Port	Erin	Commissioner			s	or th	e appointe		d Deputy			Returnin		g Of	ficer	for	the		Port
Erin	local	authority		area	wit	h	regar	d the	eligibility		of	nominated			candidates			in	th
employ o		f another		local	authority			within	the r	equested			time	period.

Candidat		e eligibility			s		n candidat		e guidanc					with	reference
the	relevant		sections		of	legislation,	and t	hese	would		have	been	publicly		availabl
during el		ection		periods,		including t	o the	Deputy		Returning		Officer o		r other		local
authority		representative

Due	e shor			t	timescales					within		which		to r	esolve		election				suc		h a	s candidate
nominations		or		objections,					C	rown		& Elections			team		and	Deputy		Returning				Officers
frequentl	y communicate							via		telephone			so	it is	possible			the	subject		was	r	aised		b
telephon	e but		w	e	d	o	not	have			any	recor		d of	such	a

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4526221 1 April 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 19 March 2025, which states:

"Please provide copies of any correspondence between the Cabinet Office Crown & Election Team and Port Erin Commissioners or the appointed Deputy Returning Officer for the Port Erin local authority area with regard the eligibility of nominated candidates in the employ of another local authority.

In order to limit the search please confine to the period since 1st Jan 2022 to date."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested.

We do not hold correspondence between the Cabinet Office, Crown & Election team and Port Erin Commissioners or the appointed Deputy Returning Officer for the Port Erin local authority area with regard the eligibility of nominated candidates in the employ of another local authority within the requested time period.

Candidate eligibility is referenced in candidate guidance documents with reference to the relevant sections of legislation, and these would have been publicly available during election periods, including to the Deputy Returning Officer or other local authority representatives.

Due to the short timescales within which to resolve election queries such as candidate nominations or objections, Crown & Elections team and Deputy Returning Officers frequently communicate via telephone so it is possible the subject was raised by telephone but we do not have any record of such a conversation.

You may wish to contact Port Erin Commissioners who may be able to help you. Port Erin Commissioners, Bridson Street, Port Erin, IM9 6AN or submit a Freedom of Information request directly: https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of- information/freedom-of-information-request-for-local-authorities/.

Please quote the reference number 4526221 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