13. Working at an election
We are always looking to recruit staff to assist at election time.
We use an online portal to correspond with election staff called the Mobile Election App (MEA). If you would like us to add your details to our database for employment during future elections, you can apply using the form below.
The Returning Officer is precluded from employing any person who has been, or may be employed by or on behalf of a candidate at a particular election.
In the run-up to an election we will write to all registered staff and ask them to indicate their availability. Once we have received this, we would then allocate jobs based from the availability request.
For each election, the Returning Officer appoints polling and counting staff, and some staff for other duties e.g. for the issue and opening of postal votes.
Polling Station Staff
These staff are employed to carry out duties at polling stations. They are responsible for the conduct of the ballot in each polling station, making sure that the proper procedure for voting is followed. Each polling station has a Presiding Officer and 1-3 poll clerks, depending on the station. On polling day, staff are required to work from 6.30am until after 10pm without leaving the polling station. Presiding Officers are then required to deliver their ballot box(es) to count centre for the verification and count.
Verification and Counting staff
The verification and counting staff are employed to verify and count the votes at the time and place appointed by the Returning Officer. The verification takes place after the close of poll. The count can take place straight after the verification through to the early hours of the morning or during another day following the election, depending on the election. These roles requires high levels of concentration and accuracy.
Postal vote staff
Staff are employed to issue and open postal votes. This usually takes place during in the fortnight before polling day.
Information for election staff
- MEA website login page
Register an interest in working at an election
Start the journey
More info about the journey
Contact details, date of birth and national insurance number.
We will check your application's details. If successful, we will upload your details to the Mobile Election App (MEA) and you will receive an email asking you to create an account on the MEA.