Casual elections opportunities

Apply to be an electoral registration canvasser

About the role 

Each autumn canvassers are employed to make personal visits to properties where the occupants have not responded to the annual canvass form.  This is to ensure that all eligible residents are registered.  Canvass work can be fitted round your other commitments and will mostly take place between October and early November.  

Job description 

Job purpose

To assist the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) with the annual canvass. You will be required to visit assigned properties and make attempts to obtain a completed Household Enquiry Form for all of these properties. 

Responsibilities 

• attend a training session covering all aspects of the duties, including health and safety issues
• visit each household within a designated area to deliver household forms and to ensure their completion. Where no contact can be made, to leave a calling card
• deliver individual voter registration forms where required with a pre-paid envelope and information cards to addresses within a designated area
• advise members of the public on the completion of the forms
• attending the Electoral Services Office in person at regular intervals as directed by the Electoral Registration Officer or supervisor
• recording information about properties, including new properties and properties that no longer exist
• sorting collected forms into order, as directed by the electoral registration office staff
• maintaining other clerical records, as necessary
• working co-operatively with colleagues within electoral registration and across the wider organisation
• complying with the statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• ensuring that confidentiality is respected and maintained at all times including compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protections Regulations (GDPR) 
• performing any other duty as directed by line management. 

Person specification

Essential 

• basic numeracy and literacy skills
• ability to use tact when dealing with the public
• ability to meet deadlines
• well developed oral communication skills including an ability to effectively communicate with members of the public.
• the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external colleagues
• ability to work independently and to show initiative
• availability to work evenings and weekends throughout the period of employment
• access to a mobile phone for health and safety reasons (Canvassing involves lone working)

Desirable

• experience of electoral registration procedures, electoral registration canvassing or election duties
• experience of working in a customer service environment.

How to apply

Complete the application form to work on elections/canvass.

Apply to be a poll clerk

About the role 

The role of the polling station staff is to ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere. 

Polling Stations are open from 7am until 10pm. On polling day, staff are required to arrive at the polling station sufficiently early (6:15am) 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. 

The current fee for poll clerks is in the region of £200, plus a fee for the completion of training. Amounts would be stipulated on an appointment letter if you were offered a role working at an election.

Job description 

Job purpose

To assist the Presiding Officer in carrying out the following: 

• complying with any instructions from the Returning Officer
• ensuring that all electors are treated impartially and with respect
• maintaining the secrecy of the ballot and complying with all secrecy requirements

Responsibilities 

Before Election Day: 

• where requested, attend training sessions and briefings provided by the Electoral Services office
• provide Electoral Services with your payment details and proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK

Election Day: 

Help the Presiding Officer to carry out the following: 

• Erect polling booths. This involves some lifting
• Prepare the polling station for the opening of poll
• Keep the polling station clean, neat and tidy
• Provide assistance to voters where appropriate, being polite and professional when dealing with all visitors to the polling station
• Check and mark electors’ electoral numbers in the register of electors and on the corresponding numbers lists. Issue ballot papers to voters
• Ensure that only eligible electors vote and that voters cast their votes in secret and without influence and put them into the ballot box
• Remain impartial at all times
• 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
• If required help the Presiding Officer to pack up documents in accordance with instructions
• You will not be permitted to leave the station until the Presiding Officer has finished the close of poll procedures

Extra Information 

You will be working a 16 hour day, 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.  You must not wear any colours relating to any Political Party. 

All staff will be required to sign their agreement to maintain the secrecy of the poll. 

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

Person specification

Essential 

• good communication skills
• literate and numerate
• good personal presentation
• a commitment to customer care – diplomacy and tact when working with members of the public
• good administration skills and attention to detail
• a team player and flexible attitude and ability to carry out work as instructed, even under pressure
• punctual and reliable
• ability to remain politically neutral – you must not have worked in support of a political party/candidate at the election, whether paid or unpaid
• must not have been convicted of an offence under Electoral Legislation
• acceptance of Waiving of Working Time Directive for period of employment
• able to lift polling booths/ballot boxes 

Desirable

• a basic understanding of the election process 
• previous election or customer service experience 

How to apply

Complete the application form to work on elections/canvass.

Apply to be count staff

About the role 

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

Count assistants are required to: 

• attend training
• have read the Statement of Secrecy
• act impartially at all times and respect confidentiality of material handled; and Refrain from engaging in conversations generally, but particularly with candidates, agents, councillors or guests or discussing anything of a political nature during the hours of the count

Job description 

Count assistants will work in teams of varying sizes as designated by the Returning Officer. 

As directed by a count supervisor, they will: 

• verify the contents of their ballot boxes
• count the number of ballot papers in a ballot box
• re-count if required
• divide ballot papers into votes for individual candidates and count them using the method designated by the Returning Officer

The length of time a 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, and may wish to bring your own refreshments. If the Count takes place immediately after the close of poll, you will start work late into the night and into the early hours of the morning. 

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.  You must not wear any colours relating to any Political Party. 

Person specification

Essential 

• literate and Numerate
• good timekeeping
• ability to remain politically neutral

Count Assistant Desirable

• previous experience as a counting assistant
• ability to work as a team member
• ability to carry out work as instructed, accurately and under pressure

How to apply

Complete the application form to work on elections/canvass.

Apply to be a presiding officer

About the role 

The role of the polling station staff is to ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere. 

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 (6:15am) 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. 

The current fee for presiding officers is in the region of £350, plus a fee for the completion of training. Amounts would be stipulated on an appointment letter if you were offered a role working at an election. 

Job description 

Job purpose

Presiding Officers are responsible for the conduct of the ballot in the polling stations and they must have a good knowledge of the voting procedure. 

Responsibilities 

• comply with any instructions from the Returning Officer
• management of the polling station
• to ensure that all electors are treated impartially and with respect
• account for all ballot papers
• to maintain the secrecy of the ballot and comply with secrecy requirements
• to supervise the poll clerk(s) at the polling station

Before Polling Day: 

• provide Electoral Services with your payment details and proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK, if requested
• where applicable, attend training sessions and briefings provided by the electoral services office
• liaise with the contact person for your designated polling station well before polling day to confirm arrangements for key collection and 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 its contents before the poll and keep secure.  Reporting any missing items to the Elections Office in good time ahead of polling opening

Polling Day:

• transport ballot box and contents to the polling station
• set up polling booths. This involves some lifting
• organise the layout of the polling station using the instructions provided and taking all voters’ 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 are clear, visible and remain in place
• keep the polling station clean, neat and tidy
• instruct and supervise the work of the poll clerk(s)
• 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 only eligible electors vote
• ensure that voters cast their votes in secret and without influence and put them into the ballot box
• provide assistance to voters where appropriate
• know the procedure for dealing with clerical errors
• receive postal votes delivered by hand and record as per the procedure
• 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 
• you will be visited by a Polling Station Inspector to ensure that the polling station is open and being operated efficiently

Close of Poll: 

• ensure the polling station is closed on time, having allowed all those in a queue at 10.00pm to cast their vote
• supervise the dismantling of the polling station and ensure the building is returned to good order
• complete the ballot paper account and associated paperwork; pack up documents in accordance with instructions given by Returning Officer
• only allow the poll clerks to leave when you do
• deliver the Ballot Box and associated paperwork to the Count location as designated by the Returning Officer

Extra Information 

You will be working a 16 hour day, 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. All staff will be required to sign an agreement to this effect. You must not wear any colours relating to any Political Party. 

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

Person specification

Essential 

• Experience of working at a Polling Station on at least 2 other occasions 
• Ability to work independently under pressure 
• Literate and numerate
• Good timekeeping 
• Ability to remain politically neutral 
• Diplomacy and tact when working with members of the public
• Physically able to undertake the duties of the task
• Acceptance of waiving of the Working Time Directive for the period of employment

Desirable

• Previous line management or supervisory experience
• Previous customer service experience 
• Working knowledge of the electoral process

How to apply

Complete the application form to work on elections/canvass.

Postal votes staff

Apply to be postal votes staff

About the role

Staff are employed to open postal votes so that they are ready to be taken to the Count once polling has closed.  This usually takes place during office hours on weekdays.

How to apply

Complete the application form to work on elections/canvass.