Election Jobs

We are currently recruiting for polling staff including Presiding Officers, Poll Clerks, and Verification and Count Assistants.

Poll Clerk

Polling Stations are open from 7.00 a.m. until 10.00 p.m. On polling day, staff are required to arrive at the polling station sufficiently early to set up the equipment in time for opening. In order to maintain the secrecy of the vote and safeguard the integrity of the process, staff should not leave the premises during polling hours.

Poll Clerks assist the Presiding Officer in the conduct of the ballot in the polling stations.

The Role:

  • Ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere
  • Comply with any instructions from the Returning Officer and/or Presiding Officer
  • Ensure electors understand the new voter identification requirements including what constitutes an acceptable form of ID
  • Ensure electors are able to present their ID in private when requested
  • Ensure that all electors are treated impartially, respectfully and in a helpful and professional manner, and receive the same experience whatever time they vote
  • Maintain the secrecy of the ballot at all times
  • Support disabled voters use any special equipment or devices

Duties:

Before Election Day:

  • Complete training sessions, and briefing sessions, provided by the Electoral Services office

Election Day:

Help the Presiding Officer to carry out the following:

  • Erect polling booths. This involves some lifting so work with other polling staff
  • Prepare the polling station for the opening of poll
  • Keep the polling station neat and tidy
  • Ask for, and check, voter identification before issuing ballot papers, highlighting any issues to the Presiding Officer
  • Check and mark electors' electoral numbers in the register of electors and on the corresponding numbers lists. Issue ballot papers to voters (but only after checking Voter ID is appropriate)
  • Ensure that voters cast their votes in secret and put them into the correct ballot box
  • Any other polling station duties on the instruction of the Presiding Officer.

Close of Poll:

  • Help in the dismantling of the polling station and ensuring the building is returned to good order

You will be working a 16-hour day, so you must provide your own refreshments and take appropriate breaks throughout the day to avoid tiredness. Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises during hours of poll.

The Returning Officer is not permitted to employ anyone who is/or has carried out duties on behalf of any political party or candidate at the election, or signed a candidate's nomination paper.  All staff will be required to sign their agreement to maintain the secrecy of the poll.

Payment

The daily rate for the Poll Clerk (including training) is £230.00. You can also claim 45p per mile for travel costs.

Payment will be made as soon as possible after the election date, usually on day 25 of the following month.

This information is provided for guidance only and may be subject to change without notice.

Person Specification

Criteria Attributes
Knowledge

Desirable

  • Working knowledge of the electoral process
Skills and abilities

Essential

  • Ability to carry out work as instructed, even under pressure

Desirable

  • Experience of working at a polling station
Other

Essential

  • Ability to remain politically neutral
  • Good timekeeping
  • Able to travel to your polling station at the required times

Desirable

  • Diplomacy and tact when working with members of the public

Presiding Officer

The Role:

  • Comply with any instructions from the Returning Officer
  • To be responsible for the conduct of the ballot in the polling station
  • To ensure the accurate delivery of the poll and account for all ballot papers
  • To ensure that all electors are treated impartially and with respect
  • To maintain the secrecy of the ballot
  • To be responsible for the management of the Poll Clerk(s) at the polling station

Duties:

Before Polling Day:

  • Complete training session provide and attend training briefings provided by the electoral services office
  • Liaise with contact person for designated polling station well before polling day to confirm arrangements for key collection/opening and closing the building
  • Visit the polling station to ensure polling day arrangements are in place
  • In a multiple polling station, make contact with other presiding officer(s)
  • Make contact with poll clerk(s) to check travel arrangements to and from polling station and to brief poll clerks on the necessary procedures
  • Collect the ballot box and check contents before the poll and keep secure.

Polling Day:

  • Transport ballot box and contents to polling station
  • Erect polling booths. This involves some lifting so work with other polling staff
  • Organise the layout of the polling station taking all voter needs into account
  • Be aware of access issues at the polling station
  • Be responsible for health and safety at the polling station for all staff and visitors
  • Ensure the polling station is opened on time
  • Ensure that all signs and instructions provided are clear, visible and remain in place throughout the day.
  • Keep the polling station neat and tidy
  • Instruct and supervise the work of the poll clerk(s)
  • Ensure that voter identification is asked for and checked before ballot papers are issued
  • Ensure electors understand the new voter identification requirements, including what constitutes an acceptable form of ID
  • Ensure electors are able to present their ID in private when requested
  • Responsible for refusing a voter a ballot paper where no ID is presented; or you do not consider the ID to be a good likeness, or consider it to be a forgery
  • Account for, and be responsible for, all ballot papers, issued and un-issued
  • Check and mark electors' electoral numbers in the register of electors and on the corresponding numbers lists
  • Issue ballot papers to voters
  • Ensure that voters cast their votes in secret and put them into the (correct) ballot box
  • Provide assistance to voters where appropriate
  • Receive postal votes delivered by hand
  • Manage the attendance of those entitled to be present in the polling station, e.g. candidates, agents, representatives of the Electoral Commission and observers, and ensure they do not interfere with the voting process
  • Be polite and professional when dealing with all visitors to the polling station and remain impartial at all times
  • Monitor the activities of tellers outside polling places

Close of Poll:

  • Ensure the polling station is closed on time
  • Complete the ballot paper account and associated paperwork, including the ballot paper refusal list and voter ID evaluation form
  • Pack up documents in accordance with instructions given by Returning Officer
  • Supervise the dismantling of the polling station and ensure the building is returned to good order
  • Deliver the Ballot Box and associated paperwork to the Count location as designated by the Returning Officer.  You will be working a 16-hour day, so you must provide your own refreshments and take appropriate breaks throughout the day to avoid tiredness. Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises during hours of poll.

The Returning Officer is not permitted to employ anyone who is/or has carried out duties on behalf of any political party or candidate at the election, or signed a candidate's nomination paper.  All staff will be required to sign their agreement to maintain the secrecy of the poll.

Payment

The daily rate for the Presiding Officer (including training) is £348.00. You can also claim 45p per mile for travel costs.

Payment will be made as soon as possible after the election date, usually on day 25 of the following month.

This information is provided for guidance only and may be subject to change without notice.

Person Specification

Criteria Attributes
Knowledge

Essential

  • Working knowledge of the electoral process
Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Previous customer service experience
  • Experience of having worked at a Polling Station on at least 2 other occasions.
  • Ability to work independently under pressure

Desirable

  • Previous line-management or supervisory experience
Other

Essential

  • Ability to remain politically neutral
  • Good timekeeping
  • Fully literate and numerate
  • Access to own car which is insured for Business Use

Desirable

  • Diplomacy and tact when working with members of the public

Verification and Count Assistant

The Count Team is responsible for counting the votes for each candidate in the election.

The Role

The role of the Verification and Count Assistant is not difficult, but duties are undertaken in a pressurized environment and the greatest of care has to be taken to ensure that mistakes are not made.

They must:

  • Attend training if required.
  • Have read and agree to the terms of the Requirement of Secrecy.
  • Act impartially at all times and respect confidentiality of material handled.
  • Refrain from engaging in conversations with candidates, agents, councillors or guests.

The Verification is taking place on Thursday 4 May 2023 from 9:30 p.m. until approximately 2:00 a.m. 

The Count is taking place on Friday 5 May 2023 from 9:30 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m.

Duties:

The Verification and Count Assistants will work in teams of varying sizes as designated by the (Deputy) Returning Officer.  Accuracy is paramount.

As directed by a Verification Supervisor, the Verification Assistant will:

  • Verify the contents of the ballot box. At this stage only the total number of ballot papers in each box are counted to ensure that they are the same as issued at the polling station.  All ballot papers whether spoilt or not must be counted at this stage and the ballot papers must be kept face upwards.
  • Unfold and count the number of ballot papers placing them all face up and the same way round in clipped batches of 10.
  • Band the batches into bundles of 100.
  • In cases of discrepancies a recount will be necessary.
  • After completion of this process it must be repeated for the next ballot box allocated to your table.  It is vital that no ballot box be opened until the previous box has been totally disposed of.  This is the Supervisor's responsibility.

The Count Assistant will follow instructions given by the Count Supervisor, and the style of counting process undertaken will depend on whether the election is for a multi Member seat or a single Member seat

  • For a multi Member Ward, ballot papers will be counted using a system either with counting sheets, 'grass skirts' or a 'Kangeroo Board'.  Training on this type of count will be given in advance.
  • For a single Member Ward, the ballot papers are sorted into trays of candidates.  Ballot papers are kept face up and the same way round in clipped batches of 10, then banded into bundles of 100.
  • In cases of discrepancies a recount will be necessary.
  • Any doubtful votes must be pulled out and handed to the Supervisor.  Ballot papers with a tick are acceptable.

The length of time a Verification or Count takes will depend on the size and nature of the election and whether re-counts are required.

You must be prepared to stay as long as it takes.  Usually the Verification takes place immediately after the close of poll, you will start working late into the evening and potentially into the early hours of the morning. Sometimes the Count will continue at the end of the Verification process (as with a Parliamentary Election) or alternatively held the following day.  You will be given adequate comfort breaks throughout the events.

The (Deputy) Returning Officer is not permitted to employ anyone who is/or has carried out duties on behalf of any political party or candidate at the election. All staff will be required to sign their agreement to maintain the secrecy of the poll.

Payment

The pay for Verification Assistants is £16.00 per hour.

The pay for Count Assistants is £11.50 per hour.

Payment will made as soon as possible after the election. (Usually day 25 of the following month)

This information is provided for guidance only and may be subject to change without notice.