Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Police and Crime Commissioner elections

You (or your election agent) may also appoint 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:2  

• the PARO, a Local Returning Officer (LRO) or a member of their staff (including any clerks appointed specifically for the election)3
• a deputy or clerk of the PARO, LRO, or a member of their staff4
• an officer of a local authority whose services have been placed at the disposal of the PARO or LRO5
• a partner or clerk of any of the above6
• 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 19837
• anyone convicted or reported of a corrupt or illegal practice under the 2012 Order8
   

You and your election agent can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment. Sub-agents may also attend the poll and the count, but only instead of the election agent. 

Each LRO will tell you the maximum number of counting agents you can appoint. All candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number.9  At the count, unless there are special circumstances, the number of counting agents allowed for each candidate will not be less than the number obtained by dividing the number of counting assistants (i.e. those staff employed on the counting) by the number of candidates.9

For each of the local counts, one counting agent for each candidate may be designated as a person authorised to request a re-count. The designation must be made at the same time as their appointment as a counting agent.

The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the relevant LRO by you or your election agent. It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.9 A separate appointment must be made for each local count, even if all local counts are held in a central location.9 The LRO will provide forms you can use for this, or you can find counting agent appointment forms on the Commission’s website.

The deadline for appointing agents is by no later than 5 working days before the poll.9   

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

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