Election Job Opportunities

Polling staff are responsible for conducting the ballot in each polling station and making sure the proper procedure for voting is followed.

On election day, polling staff work at their allocated polling station from 6.30am to after 10pm. They cannot leave the polling station during this these hours and will need to provide their own refreshments.

Polling staff must carry out training beforehand (online / in-person) - even if they have done the role before as things do change for different elections.

Presiding Officers

Presiding Officers are experienced polling station staff with a comprehensive knowledge of the voting process. They are responsible for the management of the polling station including supervision of poll clerk(s). They must comply with instructions from the Returning Officer to deliver the ballot for electors in their area safely and securely ensuring all electors are treated impartially and with respect.

Presiding Officers are responsible for collecting their ballot box and equipment in the days before the election and for delivery of the ballot to the designated drop off point after the close of poll.

Poll Clerks

Poll clerks work under the direction of the Presiding Officer with all aspects of conducting the poll at their polling station. They assist with setting up the polling station, marking of the electoral register and issuing ballot papers to voters. Poll clerks ensures all electors are treated impartially and with respect.

Postal Vote Clerk

A Postal Vote Clerk assists with processing electors completed postal votes.

This role requires collating and checking postal votes. It is not difficult but requires great attention to detail and accuracy.

This work is usually completed in the daytime at the NKDC offices in the week(s) before an election.

Counting Assistants

This role involves checking and counting the votes after the election.

The verification stage – where the number of votes received are checked - is carried out in the hours after the election closes at 10pm and can go through to the early hours of the following day.

The counting stage – counting the votes for each candidate – takes place either immediately after the verification stage is complete or where there are multiple elections counting may continue the following day.

This role is not difficult but requires great attention to detail and accuracy.

Count Runner

This role helps take delivery of ballot boxes and polling station equipment being dropped off by Presiding Officers, after the close of the poll.

The role helps move ballot boxes within the Count venue to different teams as needed.

Annual Canvass

Each Autumn, canvassers are employed by the Electoral Registration Officer to make personal visits to properties where the occupants have not responded to the annual canvass form.