Agents advice

Assisting disabled voters The Presiding Officer may assist blind, disabled or illiterate voters, or those physically unable to cast a vote. A large print ballot…

Lifts to the polls Vehicles can be hired to take voters to the polls, and vehicles normally used for hire may be used by their…

Posters and loudspeaker vans Posters cannot be within the confines of the polling station (except in Scotland). Lift cars with posters on can, however, usually…

Return of leaflet petitions to tellers In order to raise turnout and promote a campaign, sometimes leaflets are delivered to supporters before polling day with…

Tellers Tellers – the party workers who stand at the entrance to the polling station and collect voters’ electoral register numbers or name and address…

Polling Agents The agent has the power to appoint polling agents. If they are paid the appointment is the agent’s; if they are unpaid the…

The Presiding Officer Each polling station has its own Presiding Officer, who is in charge. Their decision is final and they have powers in all…

The prescribed questions can be asked of any elector or proxy. However, the Presiding Officer must put the prescribed questions precisely and calmly in the…

Leaflets on polling day You can deliver leaflets when the polls are open, and no special rules apply to content, except that you may not…

Resharing on social media messages of support from voters is a good way of building momentum for a campaign and encouraging other people to add…

Publication of exit polls The law bans the publication of exit polls before the polls close in an election. In fact, the ban is broader…

Committee Rooms The party’s Committee Rooms for running the polling day operation can be as close to the polling station as you are able to…

Selfies The law around taking photographs in the polling station, and in particular people taking photos of themselves voting, is complicated and involves several different…

Poll Cards The Returning Officer is responsible for issuing a poll card to everyone qualified to vote in an election. All electors should receive a…

A parliamentary election agent in a county constituency may appoint sub-agents to act on their behalf. No sub-agents can be appointed in a borough (or…

Appointing an agent Only the candidate can appoint the election agent (except in the case of party list elections, where the party appoints the agent).…

Why have an agent? Having an election agent for the duration of the campaign and until the election paperwork is finalised is a legal requirement…

The role of an agent Once appointed, the law makes the election agent responsible for the legality of everything that happens as part of the…