Applying to work at Elections
Have you ever thought of getting involved with elections by working at a polling station on election day or at the count following the election? Our Elections Team is always looking to recruit motivated and dynamic staff to fill any vacancies that occur. We would love to hear from you if you're interested in becoming involved.
If you are interested in applying for any of the positions below, please complete the online expression of interest form.
Expression of Interest registration form
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to work in a polling station, however you need only be 16 years of age to work at the Verification and Count.
You must also be entitled to work in the UK (in accordance with the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996). 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 (eg P60, P45, payslip, etc.)
Polling and Count Staff must consent to working in excess of the normal working hours provided for by the working time directive.
We also stipulate that you cannot work for elections if you have campaigned on behalf of a candidate or party, nominated a candidate or have a personal relationship with an elected representative or candidate.
Staff Allocation
Once staff have told us they're available, we'll allocate on a first-come, first-served basis.
If staff have expressed a preference for a particular role, or to work with certain colleagues, we will try to take that into account.
However, the needs of the overall election will take precedence and we will allocate staff as we need to, to run the election.
For some roles, staff will be assigned based on previous experience and performance.
Whilst we will follow the principles of equality of opportunity and good employment practices, the Returning Officer's decision on individual appointments is final and we will not normally notify unsuccessful applicants or enter into correspondence regarding unsuccessful applications.
Polling Station Staff
Polling station staff are responsible for the conduct of the ballot and making sure everyone who is entitled to vote is able to, without facing barriers or undue influence.
Presiding Officers have overall responsibility for their allocated polling station and must comply with the law and instructions of the Returning Officer to ensure the polling station is run correctly. They must have a good knowledge of voting procedures and have experience working at Polling Stations previously.
Poll Clerks assist the Presiding Officer to run a polling station. They 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.
On election day, polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm. Staff must be on duty from 6:30am until shortly after 10pm.
Working in a polling station is not subject to the European Working Time Directive and due to this there is no guaranteed breaks during the day, and staff are not permitted to leave the station during the day.
Staff are required to bring food and drink for the duration of the day at the polling station.
All staff employed to work at a polling station must undertake training before taking up their appointment.
Staff are paid a fixed rate for their role; the rate will be detailed by appointment letter.
Count Staff
Staff are employed in a number of roles to assist in the counting of votes cast at an election.
Once the poll closes at 10pm, ballot boxes are delivered from polling stations to the count venue. The verification and counting of votes will normally take place overnight and tends to finish around 2:00/3:00am.
Count staff are given a short break after the verification process has been completed, where a light buffet is provided.
Count staff receive training on the day prior to the start of proceedings.
Staff are paid by the hour, with the exact hours of work dependant on the duration of proceedings. All staff employed at the Count are required to remain at the venue until the result is declared.
- pdf Verification and Count Assistant Job Description (153 KB)
- pdf Ballot Box and Count Table Steward Job Description (154 KB)
Postal Vote Assistants
Each year thousands of postal votes are delivered across Worcester City, once electors have completed and returned their postal vote they must be opened and processed before the vote can be included in the count.
Postal Vote Opening Sessions are held on selected dates for two weeks prior to polling day. These sessions are held from 10am-4pm at the Guildhall, Worcester.
Training is provided at the opening sessions by the Postal Vote Supervisor.
Staff are paid by the hour, with the exact hours of work dependent on the volume of returned envelopes to be processed.