The following documentation is not available for public inspection, except by court order:
ballot papers
completed corresponding number lists
certificates of employment on duty on polling day
the lists of rejected postal votes that have failed the identifier checks and postal votes rejected at the point it was handed in (or left behind) at a polling station or to the council offices
postal vote return forms
These documents can only be accessed if the High Court or a county court is satisfied by evidence on oath that access is required for one of the following reasons:
for instituting or maintaining a prosecution for an offence in relation to ballot papers
for the purpose of an election petition
An appeal to any decision on access by a county court in England can be made to the High Court.
Applications do not have to be made in open court; they can be made by a judge from the relevant court either in open court or otherwise.
Ballot paper refusal lists (BPRL)
The Electoral Registration Officer is responsible for dealing with requests for disclosure of information from the BPRLs. More information can be found in our guidance for EROs.