The election agent of a party list and any individual candidates may also appoint agents to attend postal vote openings.1
Anyone, apart from the following people listed below, can be appointed as a postal vote agent:2
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 1983.
Election agents for party lists and individual candidates can automatically act as postal voting agents without the need of an official appointment.
The RO or a deputy will tell you the maximum number of postal voting agents that can be appointed. Election agents for party lists and individual candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number.3
The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the RO or a deputy and must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.4
The RO can provide forms you can use for this, or you can find postal voting agent appointment forms on the Commission’s website.
Appointment forms for postal voting agents need to be submitted to the RO or a deputy by the time fixed for the opening of postal votes they want to attend.5
The RO will give you at least 48 hours’ notice before the scheduled start of each postal vote opening session.6
If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, another agent may be appointed in their place. Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.7