Guidance for Returning Officers administering Local Government Elections in England

Allocating sufficient staff resources and providing training

Your project plan should include identification of staffing requirements, including any necessary recruitment arrangements. It is essential that you identify the staff you will need and make the necessary appointments at the earliest opportunity.

You should seek advice from your council’s human resources department as necessary to ensure that the methods used to identify, recruit, employ and pay staff are robust and comply with all legal requirements.

Following an assessment of the performance of staff used at previous electoral events, you may wish to contact staff used previously at an early stage in the planning process to check their availability.

You will need to ensure that all staff are sufficiently trained to carry out their role(s). You should provide accessibility awareness training for all staff who interact with voters, including staff who support electoral services, to help improve their understanding of the needs of disabled voters and the importance of clear communication.

Our guidance on accessibility contains further information on ensuring that those working on the poll are aware of accessibility needs.

 

Last updated: 17 April 2024