Guidance for Petition Officers

You, as the PO, are responsible for compiling the petition register containing the names, qualifying address, and elector numbers of those entitled to vote in the constituency at a UK Parliamentary election.1  

Where you have designated more than one signing place, you will need to frame the register in separate parts and assign electors to each part in a similar way to allocating electors to polling stations.2  

Existing electors who are 18 or over by the end of the signing period, and who are entitled to vote at a parliamentary election in the relevant MP’s constituency, are entitled to sign the petition.3  

Applications to register received after the Speaker’s notice will have no effect for that recall petition.  

Any elector who applies on or before the day the Speaker’s notice is given, and who will be determined before the publication of the petition register (the cut-off day), will be entitled to sign the petition.4 The ERO will publish a petition notice of alteration on the cut-off day, detailing in-time additions, amendments and deletions, as well as any alterations due to court orders or clerical errors. 

The relevant ERO(s) must supply you with copies of the register and notices of alteration in paper and data form for the purposes of the petition, and the usual restrictions on their use applies.5  

We have further guidance for EROs on supply of the register to a Petition Officer in England, Wales and Scotland and recall petition notices of alteration in England, Wales and Scotland.