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

Guidance to support your staff with proof checking election materials should include instructions to check that:

• all details are spelt correctly
• electors’ names and addresses are accurate and match the electoral register / absent voting lists
• materials being sent to electors are correct for them, (e.g. the ballot paper is for their electoral area; postal proxies are being sent postal proxy poll cards)
• correct deadlines are included where relevant (e.g., for postal/proxy applications on poll cards)
• where a form is prescribed, that it meets the prescribed requirements 

 For ballot paper(s), you should also check that: 

• the directions for printing have been followed
• the official mark and unique identifying mark are correct
• the ballot paper includes the details of all validly nominated candidates for the police area; including that:
  • candidate names (or commonly used name(s) where relevant) are correct
  • all addresses or relevant areas are correct
  • where relevant, party names, descriptions and emblems are correct and as registered on the Commission’s register of political parties
  • instructions at the top of each ballot paper match the legislative requirements

The contents of the postal vote pack are prescribed and you should ensure that all the relevant details have been included on those materials. You should also check that the postal voting statement(s) include: 

• the correct ballot paper number(s) are printed
• the voting instructions are the correct ones for the electoral area