Documents relating to the decision to remove EVACS source code from easy public access
Dear ACT Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2016, I apply for access to documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made.
Yours faithfully,
Vanessa Teague
OFFICIAL
Dear Vanessa Teague
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR ACCESS APPLICATION
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the access application you made under the Freedom of Information Act 2016 (FOI Act) dated 9 May 2024.
This application requested access to:
"...documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made."
Timeframe
Your application was received by Elections ACT on 9 May 2024. Under the FOI Act, we have 20 working days from this date to process your access application.
As a result, you should expect a decision from us by 7 June 2024. This period may, however, be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons set out in the FOI Act. We will notify you if this is the case.
Opportunity for discussion
The temporary removal of the EVACS code from the Elections ACT website occurred as a result of ongoing operational testing. In order to facilitate a speedier response to your access request, Elections ACT is able to meet with you to explain the process around the temporary removal of the code. Please let me know if you would prefer a meeting to discuss this.
Charges
You will not be charged unless we advise you that charges are payable in relation to your access application, and you choose to proceed.
Disclosure Log
Please note that section 28 of the FOI Act requires publication of access applications and any information subsequently released on our disclosure log at https://www.elections.act.gov.au/about_u....
This means that if you are granted access to the information requested, it will also be made publicly available on our website, unless your access application is for personal information, or information about your business, commercial, financial or professional affairs where the publication of the information would be unreasonable in the circumstances.
Further assistance
If you have any questions in relation to your access application, please contact me on (02) 6205 0033 or [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Yours sincerely
Rachel U'Ren
Rachel U'Ren (she/her) | Complaints and Records Manager
Phone: (02) 6205 0033 | Email: [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Elections ACT | ACT Government
3 Constitution Ave, Canberra | GPO Box 172 Canberra ACT 2601 http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanessa Teague <[FOI #11397 email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 12:26 PM
To: Elections ACT <[email address]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Documents relating to the decision to remove EVACS source code from easy public access
[You don't often get email from [FOI #11397 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Caution: This email originated from outside of the ACT Government. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe. Learn why this is important<http://www.act.gov.au/emailsecurity>
Dear ACT Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2016, I apply for access to documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made.
Yours faithfully,
Vanessa Teague
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11397 email]
Is [ACT Electoral Commission request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to ACT Electoral Commission? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
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This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
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OFFICIAL
Dear Vanessa Teague
THIRD PARTY CONSULTATION UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2016
I refer to your access application under the Freedom of Information Act 2016 (FOI Act), received by Elections ACT on 9 May 2024.
I am writing to tell you that we have identified information relevant to your application that concerns the affairs of a third party. This information is expected to be of concern to the third party because it relates to their personal or business affairs, or the affairs of a government or government agency. Under section 38 of the FOI Act, we are required to consult with the third party before making a decision on the release of this information.
The decision-maker will take into account any comments we receive from the third party. However, the final decision on whether to grant you access to the information requested rests with the decision-maker.
Under section 40 (1) of the FOI Act, we must respond to your application within 30 working days of receipt, not 20 working days as previously advised. I apologise for the administrative error in my acknowledgement email dated 23 May (below). Section 40 (2) provides for an additional 15 working days in order to allow us to consult with a third party.
Therefore a decision on your access application is now due on 24 June 2024 although I anticipate that we will respond before then.
If you have any questions in relation to your access application, please contact me on (02) 6205 0033 or [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Yours sincerely
Rachel U'Ren
Rachel U'Ren (she/her) | Complaints and Records Manager
Phone: (02) 6205 0033 | Email: [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Elections ACT | ACT Government
3 Constitution Ave, Canberra | GPO Box 172 Canberra ACT 2601 http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Elections ACT
Sent: Thursday, May 23, 2024 11:24 AM
To: '[FOI #11397 email]' <[FOI #11397 email]>
Subject: EACTFOI-20240509-01 - Acknowledgement of FOI access request
Dear Vanessa Teague
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF YOUR ACCESS APPLICATION
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of the access application you made under the Freedom of Information Act 2016 (FOI Act) dated 9 May 2024.
This application requested access to:
"...documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made."
Timeframe
Your application was received by Elections ACT on 9 May 2024. Under the FOI Act, we have 20 working days from this date to process your access application.
As a result, you should expect a decision from us by 7 June 2024. This period may, however, be extended if we need to consult third parties or for other reasons set out in the FOI Act. We will notify you if this is the case.
Opportunity for discussion
The temporary removal of the EVACS code from the Elections ACT website occurred as a result of ongoing operational testing. In order to facilitate a speedier response to your access request, Elections ACT is able to meet with you to explain the process around the temporary removal of the code. Please let me know if you would prefer a meeting to discuss this.
Charges
You will not be charged unless we advise you that charges are payable in relation to your access application, and you choose to proceed.
Disclosure Log
Please note that section 28 of the FOI Act requires publication of access applications and any information subsequently released on our disclosure log at https://www.elections.act.gov.au/about_u....
This means that if you are granted access to the information requested, it will also be made publicly available on our website, unless your access application is for personal information, or information about your business, commercial, financial or professional affairs where the publication of the information would be unreasonable in the circumstances.
Further assistance
If you have any questions in relation to your access application, please contact me on (02) 6205 0033 or [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Yours sincerely
Rachel U'Ren
Rachel U'Ren (she/her) | Complaints and Records Manager
Phone: (02) 6205 0033 | Email: [ACT Electoral Commission request email] Elections ACT | ACT Government
3 Constitution Ave, Canberra | GPO Box 172 Canberra ACT 2601 http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanessa Teague <[FOI #11397 email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 12:26 PM
To: Elections ACT <[email address]>
Subject: CM: Freedom of Information request - Documents relating to the decision to remove EVACS source code from easy public access
[You don't often get email from [FOI #11397 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Caution: This email originated from outside of the ACT Government. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe. Learn why this is important<http://www.act.gov.au/emailsecurity>
Dear ACT Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2016, I apply for access to documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made.
Yours faithfully,
Vanessa Teague
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11397 email]
Is [ACT Electoral Commission request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to ACT Electoral Commission? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
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OFFICIAL
Dear Vanessa Teague
Please find attached documents relating to your FOI access application:
- Decision letter and statement of decisions
- Schedule of documents
- Documents released
Yours sincerely
Rachel U'Ren (she/her) | Complaints and Records Manager
Phone: (02) 6205 0033 | Email: [ACT Electoral Commission request email]
Elections ACT | ACT Government
3 Constitution Ave, Canberra | GPO Box 172 Canberra ACT 2601 http://www.elections.act.gov.au/
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanessa Teague <[FOI #11397 email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 9, 2024 12:26 PM
To: Elections ACT <[email address]>
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Documents relating to the decision to remove EVACS source code from easy public access
[You don't often get email from [FOI #11397 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]
Caution: This email originated from outside of the ACT Government. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognise the sender and know the content is safe. Learn why this is important<http://www.act.gov.au/emailsecurity>
Dear ACT Electoral Commission,
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2016, I apply for access to documents held by the Commission in relation to the 2024 electronic voting and counting system.
Specifically, I request all documents, including email and meeting minutes, related to the decision in April 2024 to withdraw the EVACS voting and counting code from the easily-accessible public disclosure that had previously been made.
Yours faithfully,
Vanessa Teague
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #11397 email]
Is [ACT Electoral Commission request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests to ACT Electoral Commission? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/change_re...
This request has been made by an individual using Right to Know. This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. More information on how Right to Know works can be found at:
https://www.righttoknow.org.au/help/offi...
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
This email, and any attachments, may be confidential and also privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete all copies of this transmission along with any attachments immediately. You should not copy or use it for any purpose, nor disclose its contents to any other person.
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