You may appoint agents to attend postal vote issue and openings.
Anyone, apart from the following people listed below, can be appointed as a postal vote agent:
the Returning Officer or a member of their staff
a partner or clerk of the Returning Officer 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
You and your election agent can automatically act as one of these agents without the need of an official appointment.1
The Returning Officer will tell you the maximum number of postal voting you can appoint.2
All candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number.
The request to appoint postal voting agents must be made in writing to the Returning Officer. The request must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.3
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland will provide the relevant form for this, or you can find the postal voting appointment form on their: https://www.eoni.org.uk/Utility/Contact-Us
Appointment forms for postal voting agents need to be submitted to the Returning Officer by the time fixed for the issue of postal ballot papers or the opening of postal votes they want to attend.4
The Returning Officer will give you at least 48 hours’ notice before the scheduled start of each postal vote opening session.5
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 Returning Officer.6
Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.