Police Area Returning Officer skills and knowledge
In addition to your legal duties, you are also responsible for providing leadership and co-ordinating the work of local Returning Officers (LROs) to ensure that the election is well-run and that voters and those standing for election receive a consistently high-quality service across the whole of the police area.
You should ensure that you have a clear understanding of your statutory functions and a working knowledge of the relevant legislation.
In undertaking the management responsibilities attached to your role you should:
provide leadership to LROs within your police area, which should be supplemented with advice, guidance and training as required, and clearly communicate how you will monitor this to ensure that the election can be well-run and that voters receive a high-quality service wherever they are voting
co-ordinate and administer the planning of the election at the police area level, in line with the legislation and Electoral Commission guidance and performance standards
take all necessary steps to ensure that the local authority provides you with the resources you need to fulfil your role, as they must do by law
oversee the planning, project management and risk management of the election at police area level
provide guidance and support to LROs in preparing and maintaining a proper project plan and risk management approach for the election
consider your approach to appointing deputies, including the number appointed and the purposes for which you are appointing them
ensure that LROs have the necessary plans and arrangements in place for the conduct of the election in their voting area
put in place a count protocol for the two-way communication of verification and count information between you and LROs
provide guidance and support to your staff, monitor progress and receive regular feedback on activities
support LROs in administering the election and provide appropriate oversight of their work including any directions you may have issued
monitor the performance of LROs and identify and oversee any actions necessary to mitigate any issues arising
ensure that your staff, and LROs and their staff, are appropriately trained to deliver the roles required of them
ensure that election accounts are completed in a timely manner
maintain an effective working relationship with your police Single Point of Contact (SPOC)