Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Local Authority Mayoral elections in England

Who can attend the opening of postal votes

Candidates, election agents and postal voting agents are not entitled to attend the issue of postal votes.

The following people are entitled to attend the opening of returned postal votes:

• you
• your election agent or a person appointed by you to attend in their place1
• agents you have appointed to attend openings on your behalf2

For details on how to appoint these agents see Appointing postal voting agents.

Duty to maintain secrecy during postal vote opening sessions

Ballot papers will be kept face down throughout a postal vote opening session.3 Anyone attending an opening session must not attempt to see how individual ballot papers have been marked. It follows therefore that keeping a tally of how ballot papers have been marked is not allowed.

In addition, anyone attending a postal vote opening must not attempt to look at identifying marks or numbers on ballot papers, to identify or disclose how any particular ballot paper has been marked or pass on any such information gained from the session.4 Anyone found guilty of breaching these requirements can face an unlimited fine, or may be imprisoned for up to six months.