Job opportunities at elections
Would you like to earn money, meet lots of people, and play a key role in our local democracy?
The Elections team is always looking for new people to help us run elections in South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse. If you are interested in becoming involved, we would love to hear from you.
Eligibility
You must be 18 or over and entitled to work in the UK (in accordance with the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996).
You must also provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK (known as a ‘right to work’ check) by showing us the original copy of either:
- Your valid passport, or
- Your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance Number (e.g. P60, P45, payslip)
The right to work check must be completed prior to taking up your job role, so we ask that you provide this evidence as soon as possible.
Staff employed at elections must not work on behalf of a candidate during an election campaign, nor be related to a prospective candidate.
Polling station staff and count staff must consent to working in excess of the normal working hours provided for by the Working Time Directive.
Any work carried out for the elections is subject to secrecy requirements, copies of which will be supplied to all staff either on the day of their employment or prior to it.
How to apply
If you are interested in working at future elections, please download an Expression of Interest form here and email the completed version to ElectionStaff@southandvale.gov.uk.
What work can you do at an election?
There are lots of different roles available at each election, so please keep an eye on this page and our social media channels for news about when positions become available.
Information about the different types of roles can be found below.
Work at a polling station
Polling station staff are responsible for making sure that the proper voting procedures are followed. They 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, staff must be on duty at their polling station from 6.30am until shortly after 10pm. Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises during these hours.
All staff employed to work at a polling station must complete training before taking up their appointment.
There are two roles required in polling stations:
Presiding Officers are responsible for conduct in their polling station and must have a good knowledge of voting procedures. They have normally worked as a Poll Clerk previously and will be responsible for complying with all instructions and ensuring the integrity and secrecy of the ballot. Presiding Officers assign work to the Poll Clerk(s), ensuring the accuracy of the poll and account for all of the ballot papers. They are also responsible for collecting and delivering the ballot box(es) to the polling station and then to the count venue, and will have responsibility for ensuring their polling station is open and closed on the day.
Job description for Presiding Officers
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.
Job description for Poll Clerks
Processing Postal Votes
Postal Vote Assistants are required to assist with the opening of returned postal voting ballot packs. Work is available over a number of sessions from around ten days before an election and running up until the night of polling day. This may sometimes include weekends, evenings and bank holidays.
Job description for Postal Vote Assistant
Work at the election count
We have a number of roles available at the count which is where we verify, sort and then count the ballot papers, and eventually declare the results.
The count is usually held in Abingdon.
Every person attending the count will be required to maintain the secrecy of voting and remain neutral at all times.
Counting Assistants count the number of ballot papers for the verification process and will then sort and count the votes cast for each candidate. Count assistants work in small teams overseen by a Count Supervisor.
Job description for Count and Verification Assistants
Runners work outside and retrieve the ballot boxes and stationery from returning Presiding Officers vehicles and deliver them quickly to the appropriate count zone in the count venue. They usually have to be ready at the count venue from 9.00pm.
Sack Team staff work at the count venue and open and sort all returned stationery and verify the number of unused ballot papers returned by each polling station.
Job Description for Sack Sorting Assistants
Miscellaneous Duties
We often require a small number of staff in the run up to the election to assist with the preparing of stationery packs, ballot box filling and distribution, and setting up and dismantling of the count centre.
Canvassers
Canvassers are employed every autumn to visit properties that have not responded to their annual canvass letter to confirm the details of the people living in that property. They work alone and are employed for four weeks during the autumn. During this time they must visit every property assigned to them – this includes evening and weekend working. Canvassers are issued with a tablet device to record the data they collect and will need to attend a training session beforehand.
Contact us - Electoral services
01235 422600
(Text phone users add 18001 before dialing)
Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House
Abbey Close
Abingdon
OX14 3JE
