Our Elections Team is looking to recruit motivated and enthusiastic staff. We would love to hear from you if you’re interested in getting involved.
You could help us by playing an important role for your local community, plus it’s a great way to earn some extra money.
Working at a polling station
Polling station staff are responsible for making sure voting procedures are correctly followed. On election day, staff must have their polling station set up and ready to open for 7am, working through the day until after the polls close at 10pm.
Current jobs available
Duties
- Attend training and any briefing sessions
- Take charge of the polling station, ensuring the secrecy and security of the ballot and comply with Returning Officer’s instructions
- Collect ballot box and its contents before polling day and keep it secure
- Liaise with the polling station keyholder before polling day to confirm arrangements for opening and closing the premises
- Transport the ballot box and its contents to the polling station on polling day
- Open and close the polling station on time
- Organise the polling station layout, taking into account all voters’ needs
- Be aware of access issues and familiarise yourself with any special equipment or devices to help voters with disabilities
- Be responsible for the health and safety of polling station staff, voters and visitors
- Keep the polling station neat and tidy
- Instruct and supervise Poll Clerks
- Ask voter's to show their photo identification, check it's on the approved list of acceptable ID and that the photo is a reasonable likeness before issuing ballot papers. In some cases you may need to check voter's ID in a private area
- When required, refusing to give a voter a ballot paper if they do not have an acceptable form of identification
- Ensure voters can cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere
- Check and mark electors off in the polling station register and complete other official paperwork
- Give voters ballot papers and make sure they put them into the ballot box
- Help voters where appropriate, and support disabled voters throughout the process
- Deal with special voting procedures as needed, such as anonymous voters and issuing tendered ballot papers
- Accept completed postal vote packs handed in at the polling station
- Be polite and professional when dealing with all visitors to the polling station, remaining politically impartial at all times
- Maintain order in the polling station and calling for advice and help from the elections office where necessary
- Manage the attendance of official observers and others entitled to be in the polling station, making sure they do not interfere with the voting process
- Monitor the activities of candidate or party supporters, known as tellers, outside the polling place
- Account for all ballot papers issued and unissued, and complete a ballot paper account
- Complete polling station paperwork throughout the day and once the poll has closed
- Once the polls have closed and all votes have been cast, supervise the dismantling of the polling station, leaving the room as you found it
- Transport the ballot box to the designated drop off location
Skills, knowledge and experience
- Good knowledge of the voting system
- Previous experience of working in a polling station on at least two occasions
- Good communication skills and ability to explain procedures to a range of people in a calm and assertive manner
- Commitment to customer care and equal opportunities
- Good administrative skills and attention to detail
- Punctual and reliable
- Access to a vehicle to transport ballot box and equipment
Presiding Officers are required to attend training before every election. Failure to attend and successfully complete training could lead to any appointment offered being rescinded.
Duties
- Comply with instructions and attend training
- help the presiding officer set up the polling station, taking into account the needs of all voters
- put up signs, statutory notices and voter instructions inside and outside the polling station
- prepare the polling station for a 7am opening by setting up polling booths and other tasks
- Be aware of access issues and familiarise yourself with any special equipment or devices to help voters with disabilities
- Maintain the secrecy of the ballot
- Keep the polling station neat and tidy
- ask voters to show their photo identification and check it's a reasonable likeness before giving out a ballot paper
- refer identification checks to the Presiding Officer if you're not sure
- make sure voters can cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere
- check and mark electors off in the polling station register and complete other official paperwork
- give voters their ballot paper and make sure they put them into the ballot box
- help with other polling station duties when asked by the Presiding Officer
- be polite and professional when dealing with all visitors to the polling station, leaving the premises as you found it
Skills, knowledge and experience
- basic understanding of the voting process
- good communication skills
- commitment to customer care and equal opportunities
- good administrative skills and attention to detail
- punctual and reliable
Poll Clerks are required to attend training before every election. Failure to attend and successfully complete training could lead to any appointment offered being rescinded.
Counting assistants count the votes cast at polling stations, along with postal votes. Depending on the election, counting may take place straight after the polls close (10pm on polling day) or on the following day. Our election counts are usually at The Brentwood Leisure Centre.
Duties
- Comply with instructions and attend training
- Maintain the secrecy of the ballot
- Act professionally and impartially at all times
- Count ballot papers as directed by a supervisor
- Re-count ballot papers if required
- When instructed, sort ballot papers for individual candidates or choices
- Identify doubtful ballot papers
Skills, knowledge and experience
- Numeracy skills
- Punctual and reliable
- Ability to work under pressure
Duties
- Comply with instructions and attend training
- Maintain the secrecy of the ballot
- Act professionally and impartially at all times
- Count ballot papers as directed by a supervisor
- Re-count ballot papers if required
- When instructed, sort ballot papers for individual candidates or choices
- Identify doubtful ballot papers
Skills, knowledge and experience
- Numeracy skills
- Punctual and reliable
- Ability to work under pressure
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to work in a polling station or as a counting assistant.
We can only accept applications from people who are not employed by any political party or candidate at an election, including unpaid work.
We have to comply with legislation to prevent the employment of illegal workers. You will be asked to provide your passport with any relevant supporting documents which confirm you're entitled to work in the UK.
Anyone appointed to work at a polling station or at the count must be able to work flexible hours as needed during this period. You will be required to work in excess of the normal maximum working hours and must agree to accept this.
Pay
The rates of pay for election staff vary depending on the job role and the type of election. The amounts will be confirmed before an election.
How to apply
To express an interest in any of these roles, you can apply online. If you're not initially allocated for a post, you will be added to our reserve list.
If you have any questions, email elections@brentwood.gov.uk.
Information we hold about you
We will keep information about you for electoral recruitment purposes. To find out how we store your personal data, view our privacy notice (PDF).
For more information about working in elections, view our FAQs (PDF).