Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Senedd elections

The election agent of a party list and any individual candidates may appoint other people as agents to attend the count.1

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

The following people are not allowed to be counting agents:2

• the Returning Officer (RO), or a member of their staff (including any clerks appointed specifically for the election)
• a deputy or clerk of the RO, or a member of their staff
• an officer of a local authority whose services have been placed at the disposal of the RO
• a partner or clerk of any of the above
• 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

The election agent of a registered political party, an individual candidate and their agent can do anything a counting agent is allowed to do.

The RO or a deputy will manage the process for appointing counting agents.

The RO or a deputy will tell you the maximum number of counting 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, postal addresses and where available email addresses of the people being appointed.4 The RO 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 5 working days before the poll.5

If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, another agent may be appointed in their place.6 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.7

For more information on what agents can or cannot do and what they can expect to see at a count, see our guidance what does a counting agent do?