Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary general elections in Great Britain

Polling agents

You may appoint people as agents to attend the polling stations.1

What does a polling agent do?

While a polling agent can observe the poll, they do not have to be present in a polling station for polling and related procedures to take place. Polling agents have a number of important roles to play on polling day. They can:

  • be present in the polling station before the opening of the poll to watch the Presiding Officer show the empty ballot box before it is sealed.
  • detect personation and prevent people voting more than once in the election (other than as proxies). Personation is when an individual votes as someone else, whether that person is living, dead or fictitious.
  • be present when the Presiding Officer marks a ballot paper at the request of an elector who needs assistance marking a ballot paper because of a disability or an inability to read or write
    report to you or your election agent any improper activities and keep notes, if required, for giving evidence in court.
  • be present at the close of poll when the various packets of documents are sealed
  • attach their seal to any packets made up by the Presiding Officer at the close of poll, including the ballot box. Polling agents’ seals cannot be attached to ballot boxes at the start of, or during, the poll.

You and your election agent can also do anything that a polling agent is entitled to do.2  

Last updated: 1 July 2024