Local elections in England and Wales

This part covers:

• How to use this guidance
• The Returning Officer's role, responsibilities, skills and knowledge
• Our performance standards for Returning Officers

This part covers:

• Planning (including the identification and training of staff, the selection and booking of venues and management of contractors and suppliers)
• How to maintain the integrity of the election
• Raising awareness
• Access to proceedings by electoral observers and Commission representatives

This part covers:

• The nomination period (including access to the register by candidates, spending limits and the nominations process)
• The production of notices, poll cards and ballot papers
• Polling station voting

This part covers:

• The absent voting timetable
• Proxy voting
• Preparations for absent voting processes and the production of stationery
• Procedures for the issue, receipt and opening of postal votes

This part covers:

• The principles for an effective verification and count
• Preparations for the count
• Managing the verification and count
• Verification and count procedures

This part covers:

• Storage and disposal of documents
• Post-election activities
• Challenges to the result
• Review of election procedures