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

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Planning for the election

Early preparation for the next UKPGE (PDF)
Absent voters' list request form (DOCX)
Ballot paper account exercise (DOCX)
Briefing for candidates and agents UKPGE (PPTX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions UKPGE (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Unscheduled timetable UKPGE (DOCX)
Unscheduled timetable UKPE By election (DOCX)
Guidance on preventing and detecting electoral fraud in Scotland (PDF)
Making your mark - design guidance for EAs
Nomination pack - UK Parliamentary General Election (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers with Voter ID (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers Bilingual/ Cyngor i Swyddogion Llywyddu ar gambersonadu VID (PDF)
Polling Station Handbook UKPGE 2024 (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - UK Parliamentary election 2024 (PDF)
Polling station staff briefing - UK Parliamentary election (PPTX)
Polling station scenarios for polling station staff - UKPGE (DOCX)
Polling station quiz - UKPGE (DOCX)
Project plan UKPGE (XLSX)
Register request form - candidates (DOCX)
Risk register UKPGE (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

Starting the election timetable 

Unscheduled timetable UKPGE (DOCX)
Unscheduled timetable UKPE By election (DOCX)
Notice of election - UK Parliamentary election (DOCX)

Nominations

Emblem_UK-V2
Nomination checklist for UK Parliamentary elections (DOCX)
Nomination pack - UK Parliamentary General Election (DOCX)
Notice of poll UKPE (DOCX)
Quality Assurance Guidance for ROs (Generic) (PDF)
Withdrawal form UKPE (DOCX)

Agents

Counting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Nomination pack - UK Parliamentary General Election (DOCX)
Polling agent appointment form (DOCX)
Postal voting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)

  Absent voting

Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Unscheduled timetable UKPGE (DOCX)
Unscheduled timetable UKPE By election (DOCX)
Polling Station Handbook UKPGE 2024 (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - UK Parliamentary election 2024 (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account generic (DOCX)
Postal vote opening flowchart generic (not Senedd) (DOCX)
Postal vote matching spreadsheet (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting (DOCX)

Polling station voting

Ask me for help stickers and posters (ZIP)
Bilingual BPRL template/Rhestr Wrthod Papur Pleidleisio templed - Dwyieithog (DOCX)
BPRL (Ballot paper refusal list) (DOCX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a disabled voter UK Parliamentary elections (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a disabled voter at local government elections combined with other polls (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers with Voter ID (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers Bilingual/ Cyngor i Swyddogion Llywyddu ar gambersonadu VID (PDF)
Polling Station Handbook UKPGE 2024 (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - UK Parliamentary election 2024 (PDF)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
Voter identification notes and VIDEF (Generic) (DOCX)

Verification and count

Checklist of items the Presiding Officer should hand in at the verification venue (or collection point) (DOC)
Checklist when dealing with ballot box variances (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - UK Parliamentary elections (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet UKPGE (PDF)
Example checklist of materials required at the verification and count (DOCX)
Observer access restrictions log (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count (DOCX)
Template example scripts for UK Parliamentary count announcements (DOCX)
Template example scripts for UKPGE count announcements - Wales (DOCX)
Template statement if not counting within 4 hours (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

After the election

Access supply and inspection checklist - UKPE, PCC, LGE (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions UKPGE (DOCX)
Polling Station Handbook UKPGE 2024 (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - UK Parliamentary election 2024 (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account (DOCX)
Last updated: 20 May 2025