Guidance for Local Returning Officers administering a Police and Crime Commissioner election in England and Wales

The PARO is responsible for the nomination process at the election, and will provide the relevant nomination packs to any person who expresses an interest in standing.

As LRO you are responsible for the conduct of the poll in your voting area, i.e. your local authority area.

The PARO should ensure that information on the election process and spending is easily available for candidates and agents. You should liaise with the PARO at an early stage to understand their plans for coordinating engagement with candidates and agents and disseminating information to them so that you can reflect this in your own planning as appropriate, and can be prepared to deal with enquiries from candidates and agents at the election.

You should liaise with the PARO to determine what information on local processes they will require for sharing with candidates and agents and to agree how this information should be disseminated. The information should be provided in good time to enable candidates and agents to act on it.

Briefings and providing information on local arrangements

The PARO may also request that local briefings are provided. These briefings should cover the key election processes you are responsible for: 

• Timings and location for postal vote issue and openings
• Polling day 
• Equipment provided to polling stations that makes voting easier for disabled people
• Timing and location for the verification and count 
• handling of postal votes restrictions on the handling of postal voting documents by campaigners 
• the Code of conduct for campaigners in Great Britain 

Whatever method you agree with the PARO for disseminating the information, you should ensure that candidates and agents can easily access all the information they need in order to be able to participate in the election.

Providing written information 

You should liaise with the PARO to ensure that all candidates and election agents are issued with written guidance on the election processes, including information on local arrangements. The information should be provided in good time to enable candidates and agents to act on it. 

Local arrangements will include information on the dates, times and venues for the key election processes, including:

• postal vote issue and openings
• polling
• the verification and count

Whatever method you agree with the PARO for disseminating the information, you should ensure that candidates and agents can easily access all the information they need in order to be able to participate in the election.

Accessibility 

You should bear in mind that candidates and agents may have specific access needs, and so may need any information or guidance produced in a large-print or other format, such as Braille or audio, or in a language other than English (or, in Wales, in a language other than English or Welsh). 

If you are holding briefings locally, you should also consider that candidates and agents may have special requirements to support their attendance at briefings and you should make briefings available online or via video conference wherever possible. 

You can record your briefing and make this available online for candidates and agents to watch on demand at their convenience, with details of how they can ask any follow up questions afterwards included.

However, you will also need to consider how you will offer briefings to those who are unable to, or uncomfortable with, accessing such information online, which may require you to provide some in-person briefings. You should inform candidates and agents of your proposed approach early to assist with your planning and preparation. Those interested in receiving a briefing should be asked to register in advance so that you can track numbers as well as accessibility requirements, which will enable you to tailor your approach and put the appropriate arrangements in place.