East Suffolk Council
Working at Elections
List of upcoming Scheduled Elections
| Date | Scheduled Election |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 May 2025 | Suffolk County Council *Postponed* |
Our Electoral Services Team is looking to recruit staff to support us in the delivery of elections across East Suffolk. We would love to hear from you if you're interested in becoming involved.
Working at a Polling Station
Polling Station staff are responsible for making sure voting procedures are correctly followed. On election day, staff must have their polling station set up and ready to open for 7am, working through the day until after the polls close at 10pm.
All staff employed to work at a polling station must complete a training session before taking up their appointment. The roles available are:
Working at the count
Verification and Count Assistants count the votes cast at polling stations, together with any postal votes. Depending on the election, counting may take place straight after the polls close (10pm on polling day) or on the following day.
Our election counts are usually held at Waterlane Leisure Centre, Lowestoft but may also take place at other venues depending on the election. The roles available are:
All appointed staff at a Polling Station or the Count must adhere to the Maintenance of Secrecy of the ballot as set out in Section 66 of the representation of the People Act 1983.
Politically impartial
If you are appointed to work, it is important you remain politically impartial when you are working at the election. This means you cannot publicly show your support for a particular political party or candidate in any way.
How to apply
Please read the job description of the roles we have available and if you would like to apply please complete the form below and return it to the Electoral Services Team at electionstaff@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.
Eligibility to work
We will need to see proof of your Eligibility to Work in the UK (even if you work for East Suffolk Council) as your employment for Elections is with The Returning Officer and not the council. The most commonly presented documents are:
a) Your UK or EU passport; or
b) Your full birth certificate AND an official document, issued by a government agency or previous employer, giving your NI number and name.
If you are not employed by East Suffolk Council, an appointment will need to be arranged to see both yourself and your right to work documentation in person, in accordance with legislation.
No offer of employment can be made without inspection of these documents; as required under the Prevention of Illegal Working, Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
Information we will hold about you
We will keep information about you for electoral recruitment purposes only.
Job role fees
| Job role | Fee |
|---|---|
| Presiding Officer | £411.30 |
| Poll Clerk | £295.37 |
| Verification Assistant | £16.71 per hour (Day rate) / £25.06 per hour (Night rate) |
| Count Assistant | £16.71 per hour (Day rate) / £25.06 per hour (Night rate) |
| Fees include all aspects required to undertake the roles including training where required (All fees correct as of August 2024) |
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