Combined Guidance for Returning Officers at Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner Elections in England

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Resources for Returning Officers

Planning for the election

Absent voters' list request form (DOCX)
Ballot paper account exercise (DOCX)
Briefing for candidates and agents at a Local Government election in England (PPTX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Election timetable for the combined Police and Crime Commissioner and local government elections in England (DOCX)
FAQs for frontline workers - Local government elections - England (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Making your mark - design guidance for EAs
Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Parish Elections England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Local Authority Mayoral Elections (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers with Voter ID (DOCX)
Polling station handbook - combined Police and Crime Commisioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for combined authority mayoral elections combined with local government and PCC elections (PDF)
Polling station staff briefing - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (PPTX)
Polling station scenarios combined LGE-PCC (DOCX)
Polling station quiz - combined LGE-PCC (DOCX)
Project plan for elections - PCC, LGE, CAM, LAM, GLA (XLSX)
Project plan for CAROs at a Combined Authority Mayoral election (XLSX)
Register request form - candidates (DOCX)
Risk register for elections (Generic) (XLSX)
Risk register CARO CAM (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (DOC)
Tellers guidance - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Tellers dos and don'ts - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

Starting the election timetable

Notice of Election - Local Authority Mayoral elections in England (DOCX)
Notice of Election - Local Government Elections in England (DOCX)

Nominations

Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Parish Elections England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Local Authority Mayoral Elections (DOCX)
Nomination checklist - Local government elections England (DOCX)
Nomination checklist for Returning Officers - Parish council elections (DOCX)
Nomination checklist - local authority mayoral elections in England (DOCX)
Notice of poll, statement of persons nominated and situation of polling stations - Local Authority Mayoral elections (DOCX)
Notice of poll, statement of persons nominated and situation of polling stations - Local Government Elections (DOCX)
Quality Assurance Guidance for ROs (Generic) (PDF)
Withdrawal form - local elections in England and Wales (not for parishes/communities or mayoral elections) (DOCX)
Withdrawal form - parish elections (DOCX)
Withdrawal form - Local Authority Mayoral elections (DOCX)

Agents

Counting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Polling agent appointment form (DOCX)
Postal voting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (DOC)
Secrecy requirements - the poll - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (DOC)
Secrecy requirements - the count - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government elections in England (DOC)

Absent voting

Election timetable for the combined Police and Crime Commissioner and local government elections in England (DOCX)
FAQs for postal vote rejection notices (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Polling station handbook - combined Police and Crime Commisioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account (DOCX)
Postal vote opening flowchart generic (not Senedd) (DOCX)
Postal vote matching spreadsheet (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (DOC)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting - mayoral referendum (DOCX)
Template postal vote rejection notices (DOCX)

Polling station voting

BPRL (Ballot paper refusal list) (DOCX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a disabled voter LGE and Parish (DOCX)
Polling station handbook - combined Police and Crime Commisioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for combined authority mayoral elections combined with local government and PCC elections (PDF)
Secrecy requirements - the poll - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government election in England (DOC)
Secrecy requirements - the poll - mayoral referendum (DOC)
Tellers guidance - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Voter identification notes and VIDEF (Generic) (DOCX)

Verification and count  

Checklist of items the Presiding Officer should hand in at verification venue (or collection point)UKPGE, PCC, LGE (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - Police and Crime Commissioner election (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - single member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - two member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - three member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet - mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Example checklist of materials required at the verification and count (DOCX)
Observer access restrictions log (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - the count - combined Police and Crime Commissioner election and local government elections in England (DOC)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count - mayoral referendum (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

After the election

Access supply and inspection checklist - UKPE, PCC, LGE (DOCX)
Guidance for Proper Officers and candidate returns (PDF)
Parish council spending return and notes
Polling station handbook - combined Police and Crime Commisioner election and local government election in England (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account (DOCX)
Last updated: 20 May 2025