Employment Opportunities in Elections
Would you like to earn extra money and play a key role in our local democracy?
Our Elections Team is always looking to recruit motivated and enthusiastic people to work at a polling station or help to count votes. If you are interested in becoming involved, we would love to hear from you.
Eligibility
You must be 18 or over and be entitled to work in the UK (in accordance with the provision of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
Staff employed at elections must not work on behalf of a candidate during an election campaign, nor be related to a prospective candidate.
Polling station staff and count staff must consent to working in excess of the normal working hours provided for by the Working Time Directive.
How to apply
Please complete an application form and email it to [email protected].
Please note that filling in this form is a registration of your interest only. You are not guaranteed employment and we cannot guarantee the availability of positions in specific areas.
Roles and Responsibilities
Presiding Officer
As Presiding Officer, you will be responsible for the management of your polling station. You will be responsible for assigning work to your Poll Clerk(s), ensuring the accurate delivery of the poll and accounting for all ballot papers. You will also be required to check each electors photographic ID before issuing a ballot paper. A full clean driving licence and access to your own transport is essential. Some manual handling of polling booths and ballot boxes will be involved.
You will be expected to:
- attend a training session
- collect your ballot box from Eastleigh House
- liaise with the key-holder of the polling place to check arrangements for the opening and closing of your polling station
- set up your polling station and leave the building in a neat and secure state
- ensure the polling station is ready to open at 7.00am
- assign work to your Poll Clerk(s)
- deal with members of the public in a helpful, polite, and professional manner
- check each electors photographic ID before issuing a ballot paper
- accept/reject postal vote packs
- prepare the ballot paper account
- complete all the required paperwork in line with the instructions given
- deliver the ballot box and all sundries back to the count venue
- work subject to the Secrecy Requirements
To be considered for the role of a Presiding Officer, you are required to have been a Poll Clerk at least three times before.
Poll Clerk
As Poll Clerk, you will assist the Presiding Officer to run a polling station. You will help to set up polling station equipment, assist in the issue of ballot papers to members of the public, mark the electoral register and assist in the accurate completion of paperwork. You will also be required to check each electors photographic ID before issuing a ballot paper. Some manual handling of polling booths and ballot boxes will be involved.
You will be expected to:
- attend a training session
- be at the polling station from 6.30am until the Presiding Officer confirms you can leave, which is usually around 10.30pm
- assist setting up your polling station and leave the building in a neat and secure state
- complete the work assigned to you by your Presiding Officer
- deal with members of the public in a helpful, polite, and professional manner
- check each electors photographic ID before issuing a ballot paper
- assist in marking the register and any other paperwork as required
- work subject to the Secrecy Requirements
Once you have worked as a Poll Clerk at least three times, you may like to think about working as a Presiding Officer.
Count Supervisor
The Count Supervisor will be responsible for a team of varying size as designated by the Returning Officer. They will give directions throughout the count about the processes and stages, and they will be responsible for the calculations and audit trail at the count. They will report to the Returning Officer or one of the Deputy Returning Officers and will be able to manage the scrutineers who are observing the process.
You will be expected to:
- attend a training session
- supervise the Verification procedure and agree figures
- allocate the contents of the ballot box to Count Assistants
- supervise the counting of the number of ballot papers into votes for individual candidates
- supervise re-counting of the contents if required.
Counting Assistant
The purpose of the Count team is to open ballot boxes, ensure the contents agree with the Ballot Paper Account and then count the votes for each candidate in the election. All staff must exercise political sensitivity and adhere to the relevant secrecy rules.
You will be expected to:
- be at the count venue at the required time and stay until the Count Supervisor releases you
- sort and count ballot papers quickly and accurately
- work as part of a team
- follow instructions from your Count Supervisor
- recount ballot papers as required
- undertake work at unsociable hours
- work subject to the Secrecy Requirements