Guidance for Candidates at Parish council elections in England

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

• 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 1983

The same person may be appointed as a polling agent for more than one candidate.1 You can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment.2

The number of agents who may be appointed to any particular polling station is limited to four,3 or such greater number as the RO decides to allow. If more than that number are appointed, the RO will draw lots to determine those people who may attend. Only one polling agent for each candidate can be present in a polling station at any time, but a polling agent can be appointed to attend multiple polling stations. Your right to attend will remain unaffected by this.

Polling agents must be appointed by not later than 5 working days before the poll.4 The request to appoint polling agents must be made in writing to the RO.5 It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.6 The RO will provide forms you can use for this, or you can use the Commission’s polling agent appointment form.

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 RO.7 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.