The Commission has developed guidance for Local Returning Officers (LROs) on the adjudication of doubtful ballot papers at PCC elections. This is contained in our guidance for LROs at a PCC election and in a separate booklet on adjudicating doubtful ballot papers.
You should consider how you will work with LROs in your police area to ensure that the ballot papers for the whole police area are adjudicated consistently. This should include consideration of the need for providing briefing or training sessions for LROs and whether you wish to give any additional guidance or directions to them as to how they should adjudicate doubtful ballots.
The categorisation and recording of rejected ballot papers by grounds for rejection is an important part of the audit trail for the count, supporting confidence in the result. You should consider how to ensure that LROs are clear as to how rejections should be categorised and how this information can be accurately recorded.