Guidance for (Acting) Returning Officers administering a UK Parliamentary election in Great Britain

Providing information about the number of ballot papers issued

An election agent or polling agent might ask polling station staff for information on the number of ballot papers issued. It is for you to decide whether to release this information. 

A request for the number of ballot papers that have been issued can only be made by those who are entitled to be inside the polling station. If you decide to provide this information, you must be careful not to release any information that may risk breaching the secrecy of the ballot. 

We have produced guidance on how polling station staff can calculate the number of ballot papers issued. This can be found in our briefing for polling station staff.

Last updated: 31 May 2023