You should put in place depute arrangements in case you are unable to act personally, whether as CRO or RRO. You may appoint deputes to discharge all or any of your duties and this can be for a limited time period or until further notice.
Any appointed deputes should have the skills and knowledge required to carry out the functions they have been assigned such as assisting with the receipt of nomination papers, managing the postal vote process or adjudication of doubtful ballot papers.
You must confirm any appointments in writing1
and include details of the functions that the depute is authorised to exercise on your behalf. The acceptance should also be made in writing.
A depute RO is liable, in the same way as the CRO or RRO, for a breach of official duty.2
If, as CRO, you are responsible for a constituency that crosses council boundaries you should consider whether you want to delegate some of your functions in full or in part to a senior officer at the other council(s).