Guidance for Petition Officers

Those who have applied to sign the petition by post may return their postal signing pack by hand to any signing place before the end of the signing period.1  

For each poll taking place there are limits to the number of postal signing sheets that can be handed in by an individual, and restrictions on who the individual handing in the postal signing pack can be.

For more information, please see our guidance on opening postal signing packs.

You should provide staff at signing places with sufficient packets and seals for:

• accepted postal signing packs
• completed petition document return forms for accepted signing packs
• rejected postal signing packs and the accompanying completed postal petition document return forms

You should also put measures in place for the delivery or collection of received postal signing packs on a regular basis throughout the signing period, in order to facilitate regular opening and checking sessions.

As part of your training you should emphasise to the Petition Clerks the importance of maintaining the security of postal signing sheets returned to the signing places. Once the return of postal petition documents form has been completed in the correct manner, both it and the postal signing pack(s) should be immediately placed in the relevant packets provided and the Petition Clerk should ensure that the packets are stored securely throughout the day.

You should ensure that processes are in place to maintain clear records and an audit trail and ensure the security of postal signing packs at all stages during their storage and transit.