The next election will be the European Parliamentary Election which will be held on 4th June 2009.
We need people to work at elections held in the Leeds City Council area.
What type of work is available?
Presiding officer
- Collection of ballot box from Electoral Services, Town Hall, Leeds 3/4 days prior to election day and ensuring contents of box are correct against checklist provided.
- Preparation of the polling station for the commencement of poll at 7.00 a.m.
- Supervision of poll clerks
- Dealing with any enquiries or problems which may occur on polling day.
- Completion of all paperwork including hourly total figures, ballot paper account and errors and omissions from the register.
- Delivery of ballot box and other materials to counting venue immediately after close of poll on election day.
Poll clerk
- Confirming the entry of electors in the register at their qualifying address
- Marking the register to show they have voted
- Writing the elector number on each ballot paper counterfoil
- Handing ballot papers to the elector
Deputy returning officer
- Deliver the count for a Leeds City Council ward and announce the result
Senior counting assistant
- Assist the deputy returning officer in the delivery of the count for a Leeds City Council ward and work under his/her instructions with various tasks
- Supply counting assistants with sufficient ballot papers for them to count
Counting assistant
- Verify the number of votes in the ballot box
- Split votes into parties
- Count party votes into 50s and secure with an elastic band
Postal vote team supervisor
- Quality checking ballot paper numbers against security statements and envelopes
- Sort queried postal votes into categories
Match up ballot paper envelopes and security statements
- Liaise with elections staff for monitoring of queries
Postal vote opening clerks
- Remove from the outer envelope the ballot paper envelope and the security statement.
- Check that the number on the ballot paper envelope and the security statement matches
- Unmatched items will be dealt with by the team supervisors
- When all envelopes are opened the security statements will be removed by the team supervisors
- The ballot paper envelope will be opened and the ballot paper extracted
- The number on the ballot paper should match that on the ballot paper envelope
- Unmatched items will be dealt with by the team supervisors
- The ballot papers will be placed face down and counted into bundles of 50 and secured with an elastic band and placed into a ballot box for the ward
Who is eligible to apply?
Anyone aged 18 or over, who is not employed (whether in a paid or unpaid) by or on behalf of a candidate or political party at an election to which they are employed to work at.
Is experience needed?
If you are applying for poll clerk, counting assistant, postal vote opening clerk no experience is necessary. To be considered for employment as presiding officer, postal vote team supervisor, senior counting assistant or deputy returning officer you must have the relevant previous experience as follows:-
Presiding officer > Poll clerk experience
Team supervisor > Opening clerk experience
Senior counting assistant > Counting assistant experience
Deputy returning officer > Senior counting assistant experience
Do I have to attend an interview?
No, simply complete and return an application form which is available to download from this page. Successful applicants will be notified by telephone or post.
Where will I be working?
Polling station staff
There are over 360 polling stations located throughout Leeds. Applicants applying for presiding officer or poll clerk positions say which areas they would prefer and tell us if they are prepared to travel.
Vote counting staff
There will be vacancies in Garforth, Horsforth Rawdon, Leeds City Centre, Morley, Otley and Wharfedale, Pudsey, Rothwell and Wetherby. These locations may change.
Postal vote staff
Postal vote opening will be located in Leeds city centre. It is envisaged that postal vote opening will take place the week prior to the election and also election week, with an hour for lunch/dinner. Final details will be supplied nearer the time. Please note some days the hours are likely to be less and you will be paid per hour or part of an hour worked
What are the hours of work?
Presiding officers and poll clerks
Staff must be at the assigned polling station by 6.30 a.m. until the end of poll at 10.00 p.m. All staff must be prepared to remain in the polling station for the entire day and bring with them any food/drink and anything else they need.
Presiding officers who have no experience will be required to attend a training session, details of which are be given to successful candidates.
Team supervisors and postal vote clerks
Postal vote opening staff are required to work prior to the election and the hours of work are usually 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (dependant on how many postal votes have been received) with an hour for lunch. The dates for the issue and opening will be confirmed to successful applicants nearer to the date of an election.
Deputy returning officers, senior counting assistants and counting assistants
The count will take place on Sunday 7th June 2009 and will commence immediately after the close of poll at 10pm.
How will I be paid?
Payment is made by cheque and will be sent out approximately 7-10 working days after election day.
What are the fees?
All fees are currently undecided but will be posted as soon as they are known.
I’ve submitted an application, what happens next?
Applications received when no elections are due to take place in the near future will be added to our staff database and you will be contacted at a later date.
If you have a question about working at elections in Leeds please contact the Electoral Services Team on (0113) 2476726.
An application form is available to download from this page.
If you are unable to download a form and would like one posting to you please contact our helpline on (0113) 2476726 or ask a form by email to electors@leeds.gov.uk