The next scheduled elections will take place on 6 May 2027.
The online application form will be available from January 2027.
This page will be updated with further details when recruitment opens.
About the roles
The information below provides an overview of the roles available at elections. These are not currently open for application but are included to help you understand what is involved ahead of future recruitment.
Job descriptions
Poll clerk
Description of duties:
- assisting the presiding officer to prepare the polling station for the poll
- checking identification of electors attending to vote
- finding and marking the electors on the register of electors
- issuing ballot papers
- completion of paperwork required for return of postal votes
- assisting the presiding officer at the close of poll to ensure the polling station premises are tidied
- completing online interactive training session
Presiding officer
Description of duties:
- responsible for the setup of the polling station
- supervising poll clerks
- checking identification of electors attending to vote (voter ID)
- decision making on referred identification
- completion of paperwork required for return of postal votes
- ensuring at the close of poll the polling station premises are tided and all equipment has been dismantled
- ready for collection or storage
- collecting ballot box and equipment from the returning officer prior to polling day
- returning ballot box and equipment immediately after the close of poll
- completing online interactive training session
Polling station inspector
Description of duties:
- visiting polling stations within an allocated area throughout polling day
- first point of contact for presiding officers
- resolving issues arising or operational problems, escalating to the returning officer as required
- completing polling station checklists on each visit, noting any issues comments for the returning officer
- assisting presiding officers with checking identification where required
- collection of postal votes from polling stations and delivering to the returning officer
- collecting ballot box and equipment from the returning officer prior to polling day
- responsible for the receipt of ballot boxes and equipment at the close of poll
- completing online interactive training session and attending online briefing sessions for polling station inspectors
Counting assistant
Description of duties:
- sorting and counting ballot papers
Senior counting assistant
Description of duties:
- distributing ballot papers to counting assistants
- supervising counting assistants
- advising figures to count supervisor
- assisting with calculations
Postal vote opening clerk
Description of duties:
- counting envelopes returned
- following instructions on opening and checking contents of envelopes
- counting the number of ballot papers received
Postal vote team supervisor
Description of duties:
- supervising opening clerks
- verifying and adjudicating on doubtful personal identifiers
- providing daily statistics to the returning officer
- ensuring accuracy on ballot papers put forward to the count
- dealing with orphaned documents
- time recording of the team
Postal vote team assistant
Description of duties:
- supervising opening clerks
- providing daily statistics to the returning officer
- ensuring accuracy on ballot papers put forward to the count
- dealing with orphaned/rejected documents
- sorting and distribution of votes to team supervisors
- time recording of the team
Postal vote operational team assistant
Description of duties:
- receipting of daily mail from Royal Mail
- opening of mail
- sorting and distribution of mail to team supervisors
- securing of ballot papers at the end of each opening session
Postal vote scanner
Description of duties:
- providing daily statistics to the returning officer
- ensuring accuracy on ballot papers put forward to the count
- verifying and adjudicating on doubtful personal identifiers
- dealing with orphaned/rejected documents
Deputy returning officer
Description of duties:
- responsible for a ward count
- supervising senior counting assistants
- undertaking all calculations
- speaking to candidates and agents
- declaring the result
Count operational assistant
Description of duties:
- delivering ballot boxes and other equipment to each count area
- ensuring count area is clear after the declaration of result is announced
