FAQs for election staff

Scheduled elections usually take place on the first Thursday in May in an election year.  By-elections can take place at any other time of the year.  

Polls are all run from 7am to 10pm. If you work at a polling station you need to arrive by 6:30am at the latest to have time to get everything ready.

Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises between 7am and 10pm. You should take enough food and drink with you for the whole day.

It is a long day, and you must be willing to work more hours than the working time directive limit.  

The votes are usually counted overnight with the exception of council elections, which are counted the next day. The length of time a count takes depend on the type of election, how many people turned out to vote and the number of the candidates on the ballot paper. You must be prepared to stay as long as it takes.

As a guide, in Moray overnight counts are usually completed between 3am – 4am.

Polling stations are located across the Moray council area. You should be prepared to travel within a 15-mile radius and we cannot guarantee you will be placed at a polling station closest to where you live.

Major election counts usually take place at Elgin Town Hall. The venue will be dependent on the type and timing of the poll.

The minimum requirements are set out in  Eligibility

If you are appointed to work at a polling station, it is important you remain politically impartial when you are working at the polls. This means you cannot publicly show your support for a particular political party or candidate, or referendum outcome in any way.

If you are appointed to work at a polling station, you will need to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK by showing us either:
• your valid passport, or
• your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance number (e.g., P60, P45, payslip)

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic staff.  

To work at a polling station, you should have excellent customer service skills and attention to detail. You will need to ensure that the proper procedures for voting are followed including at a UK Parliamentary Election, checking voter identification.

To work at an election count, you should have good numeracy skills and be able to work accurately.

We expect anyone working at a poll to act impartially and be polite and professional in dealing with all voters, candidates, agents and observers.  

Further details for each job role can be found on this page. 

For scheduled May elections, we usually employ approximately 200 - 250 temporary staff to work at polling stations and 60 -70 staff for the count.

For by-elections during the rest of the year, the number of staff needed depends on the type of election and how many polling stations are needed.

Appointments are temporary and made by the Returning Officer rather than the council. The council’s usual recruitment policies and procedures do not apply, but we follow the principles of equal opportunities and good employment practices.  

Both council staff and external staff can apply to work at the election

Anyone who is not given a role is automatically added to our reserve list and may be contacted closer to polling day day if a role becomes available.

In the event of a scheduled election, we will contact you 4-5 months ahead of the poll and establish your preference and availability for the forthcoming poll.

We will contact you by letter if you have been appointed usually 6-8 weeks prior to the poll.

If you are not given a role, we will add you to our reserve list in case any appointed staff withdraw closer to polling day.

Yes. All polling staff must take part in either face-to-face or online training.

Count staff will be briefed about what they need to do before the count begins.

More details will be included in your appointment letter.

You will be supported by experienced staff.

If you are employed to work in a polling station, you will usually be working with one or more experienced member of staff.

If you are employed to work at a count as a counting assistant, you will be part of a bigger team, of up to 4 counting assistants and a supervisor.  

Pay rates vary depending on the role and type of poll.  Fees for attending training and travel expenses may also be paid, where appropriate.  

The amounts will be confirmed before polling day in your appointment letter. The amount we pay for each role is regularly reviewed.

All fees are subject to tax on a PAYE basis but are exempt from National Insurance contributions.  

Yes, any election work you do may affect any benefit or state pension you receive.

If you work for the council already, election work will be classed a second post and will be paid via a separate payroll.

If you are working at a polling station, you may want to apply for a postal or proxy vote as you may not be placed at your usual polling place. www.votemoray.org 

We are always looking to add people to our elections staff database.  

We must stress that being appointed to work at an election is not a guarantee of work at future elections. The work available depends on the number of applications and available vacancies. We also cannot guarantee that you will always work with the same people or in the same location.