Tory scam to steal your data for electoral purposes

[noblegiraffe]

Local Tory parties are sending out letters asking people to sign up for postal votes, with an application form for a postal vote (genuine).

They are providing a free post envelope to send it back in.

This free post envelope does not go to the electoral services office address on the form, it goes to the local Tory party office.

They can then look at the form, see your details and know that you're wanting a postal vote (so can target you earlier in the election campaign). They will also know that you read mail from the conservatives.

Hopefully they will then pass your postal vote application form onto the correct address, but who knows?

Here's an example from twitter. People in a different area have also received one, but the free post envelope did not mention the Conservatives, it's only googling that showed the real destination.

twitter.com/markdpryan/status/1637165173734612999?s=61&t=U9XrcF693-JpMxeIueYG7g

Living the foily dream

If they are going to harvest your data, then they need to abide by GDPR rules, so they would have to say so, and ask your permission for them to keep any data relating to you.

If you have any proof that they are not doing this correctly, then please report to the appropriate authorities.

I actively campaign with a different political party. The information we have available from the electoral register already tells us if people have a postal vote - and whether they have had one previously.

It's standard campaigning to target postal voters differently to in-person voters.

It is not some mass conspiracy.

Come on, that's rational sensible information. Not what OP wants to hear.

AND THE FREE ENVELOPE PROVIDED DOESN'T GO THERE.

I'm not sure how much clearer I can make it. They know the address it's meant to go to. They are hoping you will send it to them instead.

And why would they do that if they didn't want your data?

So post it yourself at your own expense. Don't use the free envelope.

Or download your own copy of the form from the electoral commission here: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-06/Postal%20vote%20application%20form.pdf

The form goes to your local electoral registration office. My bad.

If you're going to register for a postal vote you'll have followed the process already. This mail shot may make a few go "oh shit need to get that done" and so they again go and follow the normal process.

I'm really not seeing the problem here. More people voting is a good thing.

Look noble, all the main political parties do it so it's not the Tory Evil Mastermind Conspiracy you want it to be. They will pass the information to the correct place because they don't know who you're voting for and they'd be in so much shit when they got found out. That would be Trump level stupidity.

@noblegiraffe they are legally entitled to all that data anyway. Even if you fill in and send back a form off the website.

🤦‍♀️

They are using this as a method to get your data. They are hoping you will use the free envelope over paying for your own. They do not say that you can go online and do it.

This is not about getting people to register to vote, this is about getting data.

If the Tories or any other party were up to something nefarious they'd be in a while pile of trouble. Messing around with an election comes with severe legal consequences.

@noblegiraffe no they are not.

I've literally linked the ico page and explained it multiple times.

This is not a Tory conspiracy and you are spreading disinformation.

I would love it if my tory mp turned up at my house. He is quite the big cheese. He sometimes turns up with press so I could ask him why he let's our LA repeatedly shit on SEN kids. Please do come to me!

The local council won’t supply the parties with pre paid reply envelopes, because that’s at the local council tax payers expense. That’s why they’re addressed to the party office. There’s no conspiracy. Then they deliver these in bulk to the council. I think it’s pretty standard practice.

This happened in our town a few years back. Labour got done for it

This is not about getting people to register to vote, this is about getting data

I am now going out to bash my head against a brick wall. I have decided it's a much more constructive use of my time than engaging with this level of idiocy and ignorance.

Less painful isn't it

I might join you.

Budge up on that wall.

Can anyone clarify why people are saying that the electoral register people say that you will have to provide your name, address, national insurance number, nationality and age, the postal registration vote has additional information to this, but people are claiming that it isn't about extra data?

Is it just me who thinks the term 'harvest your data' is really scary sounding 🤔

I also campaign for a different political party and can also confirm this.

If it helps.

I campaign for a different party because I really really hate the Tories. Even so, I am happy to say that there is no Tory conspiracy here!

All parties like to encourage people to switch to postal votes because they have a much higher turnout to vote. Local elections sometimes have a 30% turnout, but for the people registered on a postal vote it's around 80-90% so maybe only 20-25% for on the day voters

Postal voters are more often older people who can't get to the polling station or find this easier, and demographically they usually are more likely to vote Tory. So for us, if we know people are supportive of us, we are keen to promote postal voting to them as it makes them more likely to vote, hopefully for us.

We know the names and addresses of everybody on the electoral roll and whether they have a postal vote or not. All councils provide the latest electoral roll update to parties every month. This is the full electoral roll, same as they use for elections. Not the extract which you can opt out of as it is sold commercially. This is completely standard information shared with every political party, and independent candidates for election are entitled to it as well.

Anyone else picturing a beautiful autumnal pastoral scene with a field filled with data and a big old combine harvester?

Sample privacy notice if info collected and held on electoral roll

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20097/electionsanddvoting/1726/privacynoticeeofelectorall_registration/3

*of info

This is what the link above says:

We keep records of potential and actual electors, voters, citizens, candidates and their agents and staff currently and previously employed by the elections office. These may be written records, or stored electronically.
These records may include:
Name, address, date of birth and nationality
Contact details (telephone numbers and email addresses)
Unique identifiers (such as National Insurance Numbers), signatures for absent vote checking
Scanned application forms, documentary evidence, copies of correspondence received and sent
Notes about relevant circumstances that you have told us about
Your previous or redirected address
Other occupants in your household
If you are over 76 or under 18
Whether you have opted out of appearing on the open version of the register
Staff employed by the elections office only – employment history and relevant notes about performance
As part of our duties, we may be required to collect sensitive personal information. For example, under the General Dara Protection Regulation (GDPR) nationality is categorised as special category data. This is because it may reveal a person’s racial or ethnic origin. Applications to register anonymously, and some information obtained when recruiting staff is also categorised as special category data.
As part of the nomination process for an election, a person’s political affiliation may also be recorded, and as part of the proxy voting application process, certain information about a person’s health may also be captured. These also class as special category data.
As part of our duty to conduct elections and referendums, we are also required to collect additional information to assist in this function.
This includes:
Whether you have voted at a particular election or referendum, the method of voting (whether it was at a polling station or by post), but not how or for whom you voted
Information about candidates – this may include name, home address, place of work and employer, details of any land owned or occupied by the candidate, date of birth and party affiliation (if any)
Information about agents – this may include name, home and office address, party affiliation and contact details
Expenditure incurred and/or donations received as declared on Candidate’s Spending returns
Name and signature of anyone proposing, seconding or assenting to a candidate’s nomination
Name, address and signature if you have acted as a witness to a Candidate’s consent to nomination