The Canning Town, London-based print and mailing company will produce everything for the contract in-house. It will fulfil all election materials for the council including poll cards, postal votes, ballot papers, and corresponding number lists.
In addition, it will manage the annual canvass electoral registration materials including canvass forms, household enquiry forms, and postal vote refresh.
With a higher-than-average number of postal voters, at just over 25%, the electorate in Doncaster is in excess of 225,324, with approximately 146,000 households within the constituencies.
As a result of the two-year contract, which started on 30 August, is valued at around £1.8m, and has the option to extend, FDM will manage all critical communications for any parliamentary elections, combined authority and local mayor elections, local city elections, and any referendums. It will also provide support for any local or national by-elections that take place.
The largest project in the contract will be the South Yorkshire mayoral election, which will require more than one million packs to be mailed to the electorate.
FDM sales director Ian Forster said: “We are very pleased to announce that we have been successful in the tender for the supply of election and electoral documentation for the City of Doncaster Council.
“As a national provider, we know it’s all about trust, and thanks to 30 years of experience and an ever-growing list of long-term relationships and contracts throughout the country, we are perfectly positioned to become the reliable partner we know our customers need.”
Electoral services and land charges manager at the City of Doncaster Council, Trina Barber, added: “Having previously worked with several individuals in the electoral division at FDM, there came an associated credibility and reassurance with regards to the talent and knowledge that they have within the team.
“These projects are critical and need to be handled so carefully. We know that with such a strong track record, we can rely on FDM to manage the process and to give each piece of work the attention it deserves.”
Last month, FDM secured the contract to produce up to 18 million ballot papers for the 2024 London Mayor and Assembly elections.
