Election staff responsibilities

If you are interested in any of the roles below, please visit our temporary election staff page to see the current opportunities.

Responsibilities of the Presiding Officer role

To maintain the secrecy and security of the ballot and to be the face of an efficient and democratic election process.

Duties:

• Liaise with the caretaker or keyholder with regards to the opening and closing of the building
• Liaise with your Poll Clerk with regards to travel arrangements, arrival at the polling station and closing the polling station
• Remain at the polling station for the entire hours of poll and ensure that the polling station is opened and closed on time
• Organise the lay out of the polling station taking voter needs into account
• Instruct and supervise the work of your Poll Clerk
• Be polite and professional in dealing with voters, candidates and agents, maintaining high standard of customer service
• Act impartially at all times and maintain order in the polling station
• Be responsible for all the ballot papers, paperwork and ballot box(s) for your polling station. This will involve collecting and transporting to the polling station heavy materials such as ballot papers and ballot boxes
• Ensure the requirements for secrecy and security are observed, as per instructions
• Provide assistance to voters where appropriate
• Ensure the proper procedure for voting is followed such as providing assistance to voters who cannot read the ballot paper, providing assistance to people unable to vote unaided and voters assisted by a companion
• Deal with special procedures for voting
• Mark the Corresponding Numbers List as appropriate
• Issue ballot papers to voters
• Receive postal vote envelopes
• Deal with candidates, agents and tellers and ensure they do not interfere with the voting process
• Keep the polling station neat and tidy and ensure that all signs and notices are clearly visible and remain in place
• Be responsible for Health and Safety at the station for yourself and others

Responsibilities of the Poll Clerk role

Poll Clerks do not have the responsibilities of the Presiding Officer, but they must know all the procedures for voting and how to deal with any problems.

Duties:

• Comply with the instructions of the Deputy Returning Officer and the Presiding Officer
• Assist with the layout of the polling station and prepare for the opening of the poll be polite and professional in dealing with voters, campaigners, candidates and agents,
  representatives of the Electoral Commission and accredited observers
• Act impartially at all times
• Check the photographic identification of electors and refer any doubtful cases to the Presiding Officer for decision
• Check that electors are eligible to vote at the referendum and elections and at this polling station check and mark voters’ elector numbers in the register of electors
• Write electors’ elector numbers against the numbers of the ballot papers issued in the corresponding number lists
• Issue ballot papers to voters as directed by the Presiding Officer, ensuring that they bear the official mark
• Ensure that voters cast their votes in secret
• Maintain the secrecy of the ballot at all times
• Keep the polling station neat and tidy
• Ensure that all signs and notices are clear, visible and remain in place throughout the day
• Answer voters’ questions, where appropriate, in a friendly and professional way
• Help with any other polling station duties on the instruction of the Presiding Officer
• Assist the Presiding Officer to complete necessary procedures after the close of poll

Responsibilities of the Postal Vote Assistant role

To assist the Returning Officer in the issue, opening and handling of postal ballot papers. To make sure that the postal ballot is dealt with fairly, efficiently and accurately.

Duties:

• Follow instructions provided by the elections officers and ensure that the proper procedure is followed
• Ensure the requirements for secrecy and security are observed
• Act impartially at all times, be polite and professional but not engage in debate with any Candidate or Agent
• During the counting of the votes, draw the Supervisors attention to any doubtful papers as instructed
• Be responsible for the Health and Safety of yourself and others

Responsibilities of the Count Assistant role

To assist the Returning Officer in the counting of ballot papers. To make sure that the votes are counted fairly, efficiently and accurately.

Duties

• Assist the Table Supervisor in the sorting and counting of votes
• Ensure the requirements for secrecy and security are observed
• Remain at the Count Centre until all votes are counted
• Ensure that the proper procedure for the sorting and counting of votes is followed, as per instructions
• Act impartially at all times, be polite and professional but not engage in debate with any candidate/counting agent
• During the counting of the votes, draw the Table Supervisors attention to any doubtful papers as instructed
• Be responsible for the Health and Safety of yourself and others