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

The Returning Officer will tell you the maximum number of postal voting agents you can appoint.1 All candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number. 

The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the Returning Officer.2 It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.3 The Returning Officer will provide forms you can use for this, or you can find postal voting appointment forms on the Commission’s website.

Appointment forms for postal voting agents only need to be submitted to the Returning Officer by the time fixed for the opening of postal votes they want to attend.4 The Returning Officer will give you at least 48 hours’ notice before the scheduled start of each postal vote opening session.5

If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, you may appoint another agent in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the Returning Officer.6 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay. 

More information on what agents can and cannot do and what they can expect to see at postal vote opening sessions can be found in our guidance the stages of the postal vote opening process.