Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

Election agents for a party list and individual candidates may appoint people as agents to attend the polling stations.1

Anyone can be appointed as a polling agent, provided that they are not:2

• the Returning Officer (RO), or a member of their staff
• a partner or clerk of the RO, or a member of their staff
• 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 19833

Election agents for party lists, individual candidates and their election agent can also do anything that a polling agent is entitled to do without the need of an official appointment.4

Any number of polling agents can be appointed to attend each polling station, but only one polling agent for each party list or individual candidate can be present in the polling station at any time.5 A polling agent can be appointed to attend multiple polling stations.

Sub-agents may also attend the poll, but only instead of an election agent.

Polling agents must be appointed by not later than 5 workings day before the poll.6 The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the relevant RO. It must contain the names, postal addresses and where available email addresses of the people being appointed.7 The RO will provide forms that can be used for this, or you can use the Commission’s polling agent appointment form.

If a polling agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, another agent may be appointed in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the RO. Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.8