Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Greater London Authority elections

Appointing your counting agents

You may appoint other people as agents to attend the count.1  

Anyone, apart from those listed below can be appointed as a counting agent. 

The following people are not allowed to be counting agents: 

  • the Greater London Returning Officer (GLRO), Constituency Returning Officer (CRO) or a member of their staff2  
  • a partner or clerk of the GLRO, CRO or a member of their staff3
  • anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 19834

The same person may be appointed as a counting agent for more than one candidate.5    

Both you and your election agent can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment.6    

The CRO will manage the process for appointing counting agents for the three contests in the Greater London Authority elections. 

The CRO will tell you the maximum number of counting agents you can appoint.  

The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to CRO, and must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.7 The CRO can provide forms you can use for this, or you can find counting agent appointment forms on the Commission’s website.


The deadline for appointing counting agents is by no later than the fifth working day before the poll.8

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 CRO. Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.9

For more information on what agents can and cannot do and what they can expect to see at the count, guidance can be found in What does a counting agent do?

Last updated: 8 November 2024