FOI & EIR Requests for Election Records - Liverpool

Elections and Campaign Finance England 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

In Liverpool, England, requests for election records are normally handled as Freedom of Information (FOI) requests and must be processed within 20 working days by the council. This guide explains which office holds voting and election records, when to use FOI versus EIR, how long the council has to respond, and practical steps to request, appeal or report delayed responses.

Start a request in writing and keep a copy of your correspondence.

How FOI, EIR and Election Records Apply

The City Council’s electoral services maintain many election-related documents, including poll results, turnout figures and returned nomination papers; access routes and any exclusions are set out by the council and by national FOI law. For Liverpool City Council procedures and the request form see the council FOI pages liverpool.gov.uk/freedom-of-information/[1]. For general FOI time limits and ICO enforcement guidance see the Information Commissioner’s Office guidance ico.org.uk/freedom-of-information[3].

What to Request and When to Use FOI vs EIR

  • Election results and turnout summaries (published data may be available without a request).
  • Returned nomination papers and statements of persons nominated (may contain personal data and exemptions).
  • Operational records about polling station arrangements, staff lists and ballot paper dispatches.
  • Use FOI for general election records; EIR applies only where information is environmental in nature, which is rare for election records.
Most election record requests are FOI requests to Electoral Services.

Penalties & Enforcement

Statutory time limit: under the Freedom of Information framework the council must normally respond within 20 working days; the ICO enforces response deadlines and can issue decision notices and other regulatory steps for non-compliance.[3]

  • Monetary fines or penalties for failing to comply with FOI time limits or decisions: not specified on the cited page for Liverpool; ICO enforcement powers are set out on the ICO site and vary by remedy.[1]
  • Escalation: complaint to the council’s FOI/Information Governance team, then to the ICO, and then to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights) where applicable; statutory appeal periods should be checked with the ICO guidance.[3]
  • Non-monetary sanctions include ICO decision notices, enforcement notices and requirements to disclose or re-process a request.
  • Enforcer/contact: Liverpool City Council Information Governance / Freedom of Information team and Electoral Services; contact details and complaint routes are on the council pages for elections and FOI.[1]
  • Appeals/review: appeal an ICO decision to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights); time limits for appeals are described on the ICO website and on tribunal guidance pages.
If your request is urgent, state why and ask for an internal review promptly.

Applications & Forms

The council publishes an FOI request process and a web form on its Freedom of Information pages; where a specific electoral form exists (for example, forms to inspect nomination papers) the electoral services pages explain how to apply and inspect documents. For Liverpool Electoral Services see the council elections pages liverpool.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/[2].

Action Steps

  • Prepare a written FOI request that clearly identifies the election records and date range you want.
  • Submit via the council FOI web form or by email to the council’s FOI address as listed on the council page.[1]
  • Note the 20 working day statutory deadline and record the request date.
  • If refused, request an internal review from the council, then complain to the ICO if unsatisfied.
Keep copies of all correspondence and cite the 20 working day statutory deadline when chasing a response.

FAQ

Who holds election records in Liverpool?
Electoral Services at Liverpool City Council holds election records; some results are also published online by the council.
How long will a request take?
The council should respond within 20 working days under FOI; if information is environmental the EIR also uses a 20 working day timescale.[3]
Can I get nomination papers or voter lists?
Nomination papers and some documents may be available for inspection but may contain personal data or be exempt; check Electoral Services procedures on the council site.[2]

How-To

  1. Identify the specific election records, date ranges and formats you need.
  2. Locate the Liverpool FOI request form or email address on the council FOI page and prepare a clear written request.
  3. Submit the request and note the date to calculate the 20 working day deadline.
  4. If the council refuses or fails to respond, ask for an internal review.
  5. If the internal review is unsatisfactory, escalate to the ICO and consider appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.
You can appeal ICO decisions to the First-tier Tribunal (Information Rights).

Key Takeaways

  • FOI requests for election records are normally answered within 20 working days.
  • Start with Liverpool City Council Electoral Services and the council FOI team for submissions and internal reviews.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Liverpool City Council Freedom of Information
  2. [2] Liverpool City Council Voting and Elections
  3. [3] Information Commissioner's Office - Freedom of Information

Categories

General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data