Have you ever thought of getting involved at election time by either working at a polling station or at the count? Our Election Team is always looking for new people to help us, and would love to hear from you if you are interested in becoming involved.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to work in a polling station or at the count. You must also be entitled to work in the UK (in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006).
- If successful, prior to taking up your appointment, you must provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK by showing us either:
- Your valid passport, or
- Your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance Number (for example, P60, P45, payslip)
- Staff employed at elections must not work on behalf of a candidate during an election campaign, nor be related to a prospective candidate
- Polling and count staff must consent to working in excess of the normal working hours provided for by the Working Time Directive
Have you got what it takes to join us?
We are always looking to recruit motivated and dynamic staff to fill any vacancies that occur. A brief description of the jobs available is as follows:
Polling Station Staff
The polling station staff are appointed by the Returning Officer, and are responsible for the conduct of the ballot, making sure that the proper procedures for voting are followed. The role of polling station staff is to ensure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere. On the day of the election, polling station staff must be on duty from 6.00am until after 10pm. Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises during the hours of poll.
All staff employed to work at a polling station must attend a training session before taking up their appointment. Polling Station Roles are as follows:
Presiding Officers
Presiding Officers are responsible for conduct in their polling station and must have a good knowledge of the voting procedures. As a Presiding Officer you will be responsible for complying with all instructions and ensuring the integrity and secrecy of the ballot. You will assign work to the Polling Station Staff, ensuring the accuracy of the poll and account for all of the ballot papers. You will be responsible for collecting and delivering your ballot box from/to a specified collection point and you may have responsibility for ensuring your polling building is open and closed on the day. You may also be asked to receipt ballot boxes after the close of poll at one of the collection points in your area.
Poll Clerks
As Poll Clerk you will assist the Presiding Officer to run a polling station. You will help to set up polling station equipment, assist in the issue of ballot papers to members of the public, mark the electoral register and assist in the accurate completion of paperwork.
Information Officers
Information Officers (IOs) are responsible for greeting voters and the efficient direction of people at the polling station, and providing information to all voters, especially those with special needs. The IO is often the first election official that voters come into contact with when they arrive to vote so they must ensure hygiene and safety measures are being used before directing voters appropriately to the correct polling station and must be able to assist the Presiding Officer.
Rates of Pay
The rate of pay for election staff varies depending on the job role and the type of poll. All fees are subject to tax and will be reviewed each year. Mileage allowance will be paid on applicable posts.
Rates are currently as per table however may be subject to change and as such will be specified in any offer of contract:
| Fees | Presiding Officer | Poll Clerk | Information Officer | Standby only | Count Enumerator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Fee | £263 | £184 | £184 | £50 | |
| Training Fee | £40 | £40 | £40 | £40 | Not currently recruiting. |
| Gross Total | £303 | £224 | £224 | £90 |
Further Information
Any work carried out for the elections office is subject to the Secrecy Requirements.
If you require any further information, please email: electionstaffing@argyll-bute.gov.uk
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for any of the roles listed please complete the online application form, or download a copy of the form in Word format, and email it to electionstaffing@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Download the application form to work in Elections
Submitting an application form is not a guarantee of employment, we will keep your details on our records and contact you before the next election.
In the run-up to an election we will email all registered staff and ask them to indicate their availability.
If you indicate that you are available and a suitable position comes up we will contact you with a Letter of Appointment which must be signed and returned by the deadline indicated.
Data Protection
The information which you provide will be processed by the Returning Officer, which is the 'data controller' for the purposes of Data Protection legislation and will only be used in relation to the proper management of the election process and in the administration of election staff. Information will be shared with our payroll service and, if you are required to work at any election, with HM Revenues & Customs for the purposes of payment and collection of taxes. We may also share your data in order to comply with our legal obligations to protect public funds.
You can find our full Privacy Statement on the Council Website.
