Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Senedd election

You must appoint and pay a Presiding Officer and such Poll Clerks as may be necessary to staff each polling station.1 This cannot be any person who has been employed by or on behalf of an individual candidate or, a registered political party, in or about the election.2

To meet your Welsh language obligations, you should ensure that voters attending a polling station can receive instructions and any help in both English and in Welsh.

There are some responsibilities that cannot be undertaken by a Poll Clerk, such as ordering someone to leave the polling station. You have flexibility to use the Poll Clerks you employ to carry out any other functions and responsibilities needed to deliver polling station voting effectively, including:

• the polling process – checking the register, marking the register, filling in the CNL and other statutory paperwork etc.
• managing the flow of electors and ensuring the secrecy of the ballot
• providing electors with additional information and support including:
  • answering questions about the process
  • providing information about the instructions for voting
  • providing advice and assistance to support the accessibility of the poll

When deciding on the allocation of electors and staff to polling stations, having regard to our guidance on the recommended minimum staffing levels for polling stations and on how staff could be deployed in different scenarios, will help ensure that voters can receive a high-quality service.