Election job descriptions

We are recruiting staff for paid roles at elections taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026.

Read the descriptions in full to help you decide which role(s) you would like to apply for.

Polling station staff

On election day (Thursday 7 May 2026), polling station staff are required to work from 6.15am until after 10pm.

All polling station staff must complete online training ahead of polling day. If you do not complete the relevant training your appointment will be withdrawn.

There are two job roles available at polling stations - Presiding Officer and Poll Clerk.

Presiding Officer

As a Presiding Officer you will be responsible for the overall management of a polling station, ensuring that every voter’s experience is smooth, secure, and fair.

You will need to visit your polling station in advance and ensure arrangements have been made to access the venue.

You must have a sound knowledge of all voting procedures and have previous experience of working as a Poll Clerk at least twice.

On polling day, you will answer any questions from electors and manage the attendance of those entitled to be present such as candidates, agents and Electoral Commission representatives.

The Presiding Officer is responsible for all paperwork relating to the polling station. You will need to collect materials from Electoral Services before polling day and return of the ballot boxes with their ballot papers at the close of poll. 

Split polling stations (those serving a large number of electors) will be managed by a Senior Presiding Officer. To be a Senior Presiding Officer you must have recent experience of working as a Presiding Officer.

Poll Clerk

Poll Clerks assist voters in all aspects of the conduct of the ballot in each polling station and make sure that the proper procedure for voting is followed.

You will help set up the polling station and tidy up after the close of poll.

While polls are open, you will check that all electors visiting the station are eligible to vote, update the register of electors and issue ballot papers.

Poll Clerks must understand all procedures for voting and be able to deal with queries. They work in teams of two or three depending on the size of the station.

You must be able to follow instructions, communicate with the public effectively, and have good attention to detail.

Reserve Poll Clerk

If you apply after all Poll Clerk jobs have been allocated, you may be appointed as a reserve. You will need to attend training and be ready to work at any polling station in the borough if required.

You may be called upon as late as polling day itself, so you will need to be available to work on that day.

Other job roles

We are also recruiting Count Assistants, Postal Vote Openers and Support Staff.

Count Assistants

Count Assistants will work overnight on Thursday 7 May 2026. They work in teams, first counting the ballot papers to verify that the totals match the expected numbers from the ballot paper accounts; and secondly sorting the ballot papers by candidates.

You will count and sort ballot papers quickly but accurately whilst under pressure and under close scrutiny by election agents, and will re-count ballot papers as required.

You must have good numeric skills along with visual accuracy and attention to detail.

If you are willing to work in a polling station until after 10pm and then join the overnight count after the close of poll please tick the appropriate boxes on the application form. However, we intend to use different staff for the overnight count where possible.

Postal Vote Openers

If appointed to this role you will attend multiple sessions between Monday 27 April and Thursday 7 May 2026.

At these sessions, staff manually open each envelope to check the enclosed papers are correct and that the Postal Vote Statement contains the elector’s signature and date of birth, before other staff scan every postal vote statement to match this against personal information already held on record.

You will work on various days and times before the election. Most sessions take place during the working day (Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm), so you must be available during these hours.

The finishing time of each session will depend on the number of postal packs returned.

Priority will be given to those who can attend all/most sessions.

Support staff

Support staff help with various manual handling and administrative tasks at the count venue on election night. Tasks will include:

• Moving ballot boxes
• Checking unused ballot papers
• Sorting returned polling station stationery and equipment and official election documentation for secure storage

Details of specific locations and timings will be provided on appointment.

Payment will be made for the hours to worked and arrangements must be in place to get home at whatever time you are released from duty.

No prior experience is required and training will be given on the night. You must be able to follow instructions precisely.

You will be working outside regardless of the weather conditions, and need to be physically fit with the ability to carry heavy loads and stand for long periods of time.