Guidance for Returning Officers administering Local Government Elections in England

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Resources for Returning Officers

Planning for the election

Absent voters' list request form (DOCX)
Ballot paper account exercise (DOCX)
Briefing for candidates and agents at a Local Government election in England (PPTX)
Briefing for candidates and agents - Combined Authority Mayoral elections (PPTX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
FAQs for frontline workers - Local government elections - England (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Scheduled election timetable Local Government elections in England 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Election timetable for non-scheduled local government elections in England (DOCX)
Guidance for County Returning Officers (PDF)
Making your mark - design guidance for EAs
Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Local Government Elections England word version (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Parish Elections England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Parish Elections word version (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Local Authority Mayoral Elections (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined Authority Mayoral Election without P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined Authority Mayoral Election with P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined County Authority Mayoral Election without P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined County Authority Mayoral Election with P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Observers at Local Government elections in England 2023 (DOCX)
Personation advice for Presiding Officers with Voter ID (DOCX)
Polling station handbook - local elections in England (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - local government elections in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for local authority mayoral elections combined with local government and combined authority mayoral elections (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for standalone local mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for local mayoral elections combined with local government elections in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook - combined authority mayoral elections (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - combined authority mayoral election (PDF)
Polling station handbook - combined authority mayoral election and local elections in England (PDF)
Polling station quick guide - combined authority mayoral election and local government election in England (PDF)
Briefing for polling station staff - LGE (PPTX)
Polling station scenarios LGE (DOCX)
Polling station quiz LGE (DOCX)
Project plan for elections - PCC, LGE, CAM, LAM, GLA (XLSX)
Register request form - candidates (DOCX)
Risk register for elections (Generic) (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
Tellers guidance - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Tellers dos and don'ts - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

Starting the election timetable

Notice of Election - Local Authority Mayoral elections in England (DOCX)
Notice of Election - Local Government Elections in England (DOCX)

Nominations

Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Parish Elections England (PDF)
Nomination pack - Local Authority Mayoral Elections (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined Authority Mayoral Election without P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined Authority Mayoral Election with P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined County Authority Mayoral Election without P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Combined County Authority Mayoral Election with P[F]CC functions (DOCX)
Nomination checklist - Local government elections England (DOCX)
Nomination checklist for Returning Officers - Parish council elections (DOCX)
Nomination checklist - local authority mayoral elections in England (DOCX)
Notice of poll, statement of persons nominated and situation of polling stations - Local Authority Mayoral elections (DOCX)
Notice of poll, statement of persons nominated and situation of polling stations - Local Government Elections (DOCX)
Quality Assurance Guidance for ROs (Generic) (PDF)
Withdrawal form - local elections in England and Wales (not for parishes/communities or mayoral elections) (DOCX)
Withdrawal form - parish elections (DOCX)
Withdrawal form - Local Authority Mayoral elections (DOCX)

Agents

Counting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Nomination pack - Local Government Election England (PDF)
Polling agent appointment form (DOCX)
Postal voting agent appointment form (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count (DOCX)

Absent voting

Scheduled election timetable Local Government elections in England 7 May 2026 (DOCX)
Election timetable for non-scheduled local government elections in England (DOCX)
FAQs for postal vote rejection notices (DOCX)
Forensic Science Service guidance on signature checking (Generic) (PDF)
Polling station handbook - local elections in England (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account (DOCX)
Postal vote opening flowchart generic (not Senedd) (DOCX)
Postal vote matching spreadsheet (XLSX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - postal voting - mayoral referendum (DOCX)
Template postal vote rejection notices (DOCX)

Polling station voting

Ask me for help stickers and posters (ZIP)
BPRL (Ballot paper refusal list) (DOCX)
Checklist for polling station inspectors (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a disabled voter LGE and Parish (DOCX)
Declaration for the companion of a voter with disabilities LAM (DOCX)
Polling station handbook - combined authority mayoral elections (PDF)
Polling station handbook - combined authority mayoral elections (PDF)
Polling station handbook - combined authority mayoral election and local elections in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for local authority mayoral elections combined with local government and combined authority mayoral elections (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for standalone local mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Polling station handbook insert for local mayoral elections combined with local government elections in England (PDF)
Postal vote return form (PDF)
Log to record details of postal voters who claim not to have applied for a postal vote (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
Tellers guidance - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Tellers dos and don'ts - UKPE, PCC, CAM, GLA, LAM, LGE (DOCX)
Voter identification notes and VIDEF (Generic) (DOCX)

Verification and count  

Checklist of items the Presiding Officer should hand in at verification venue (or collection point)UKPGE, PCC, LGE (DOCX)
Checklist when dealing with ballot box variances (DOCX)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - single member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - two member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat - three member ward LGE (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper booklet - mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Doubtful ballot paper placemat mayoral elections in England (PDF)
Example checklist of materials required at the verification and count (DOCX)
Observer access restrictions log (DOCX)
Observers at Local Government elections in England 2023 (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count (DOCX)
Secrecy requirements - verification and count - mayoral referendum (DOCX)
Tips on managing the media at the count (Generic) (DOCX)

After the election

Election timetable for non-scheduled local government elections in England (DOCX)
Access supply and inspection checklist - UKPE, PCC, LGE (DOCX)
Close of poll packing instructions (DOCX)
Guidance for Proper Officers and candidate returns (PDF)
Parish council spending return and notes
Polling station handbook - local elections in England (PDF)
Postal voting ballot paper account (DOCX)
User guide for post poll data collection May 2026 (DOCX)
2026 election data to be collected (XLSX)
2026 Voter ID Add up sheet

Casual vacancies and By-elections

Election timetable for non-scheduled local government elections in England (DOCX)
Last updated: 10 June 2026