Work with us

Around election time we are always looking for people to help us and we would like to hear from you if you are interested in being involved.

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to work in a polling station or assist with the annual canvass, although counting assistants only need to be 16 years of age.

You must also be entitled to work in the UK (in accordance with the provisions of the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996).

Polling, postal and counting staff must not work on behalf of a candidate during the election campaign or be related to a prospective candidate.

Job roles

Electoral registration form deliverers and canvassers

Form deliverers are employed to deliver electoral registration forms to every property in the district.

We then employ canvassers to chase up non responders to the initial delivery and reminder forms during the ‘door-knocking’ stage.

All canvassers receive annual training.

We employ about 40 deliverers and canvassers. If you are interested in doing either role, please email the electoral services team: elections@arun.gov.uk giving your contact details and the areas that you are interested in covering.

If we do not have a current vacancy for your preferred area, we may offer you an alternative or add your name to our waiting list.

Poll card deliverers

Duties include delivering household enquiry forms to every household in your allocated area. Then around a month before an election, poll cards are delivered to properties with eligible electors.

The rate of pay is 40p per poll card with 20% tax payable. National Insurance is not applicable.

Poll clerks and presiding officers

Polling station staff are responsible for the conduct of the ballot on the day of the election. All staff must attend a training session before taking up their appointment.

On the day of the election, polling station staff must be at their venue by 6.15am and are on duty until shortly after 10pm.

Poll clerk job description

Presiding officer job description

Postal vote opener

The role of the postal vote opener is to follow the process in a secure manner whilst maintaining the secrecy of the ballot.

This process firstly involves counting into batches the number of postal votes received that day to ensure a clear record is kept. These are then verified before the postal vote openers begin opening envelopes and counting the number of ballot papers received for each election.

Ballot papers are opened face down so votes for candidates will not be visible. Counting of the votes for candidates is not part of this process.

Opening sessions are held twice a day in the 2 weeks before the election.

Postal vote opener job description

Counting assistants

Counting assistants are employed to verify and count the votes cast at polling stations, together with the postal votes received in the run up to polling day.

Verification and the counting of votes usually takes place later in the evening after the polling stations have closed or the following morning. This is usually done at the Arun Leisure Centre in Felpham, Bognor Regis.