Register your interest 

We are always looking to recruit staff to help at election time.

If you would be interested in working at election time, please complete the Electoral Services Payroll Form.

Please email your completed application form to: electionstaff@somerset.gov.uk

We add staff to our database as they apply. Only individuals who have a right to work in the United Kingdom and with no political affiliations are eligible to work at elections.

You can find information about the roles that are needed and what happens if you are appointed below.

The roles that we need

Presiding officers

As a presiding officer you would be responsible for the conduct of the ballot in the polling stations and must have a good knowledge of the voting procedure.

You would be responsible for making sure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere.

Preferably you would have worked as a poll clerk at least three times at previous elections,  but training will be provided.

You must be able to drive and your car insurance must include business cover. Hours of working would be 6.15am to 10.30pm on polling day. You will not be able to leave the polling station during these hours.

Poll Clerks

As a poll clerk your job would be to assist the presiding officer in the setting up and dismantling the polling station.

You will also be responsible for checking and marking the electoral register and making sure that voters are able to cast their vote in secret, free from influence and in a calm atmosphere.

Training will be provided. Hours of working would be 6.15am to 10.30pm on polling day. You will not be able to leave the polling station during these hours.

Verification and Counting Staff

The purpose of a verification and counting assistant is to open ballot boxes, make sure that the contents agree with the ballot paper accounts and then count the votes for each candidate in the election.

You will be working as part of a supervised team. Hours of working would be 10pm to 4am (approx.) on polling day.

Postal Vote Openers

You will be required to open, count and check the contents of envelopes. Please note that the sessions are held depending on the volume of postal votes that have been received.

Rates of pay

The rates of pay for election staff varies depending on the job role and the type of election. The amounts will be confirmed prior to an election.

At election time 

In the run-up to an election, we will write to all registered staff and ask them about their availability. If you tell us that you are available, and you are appointed to a job at this election we will contact you with a Letter of Appointment which must be signed and returned by a deadline.

Please note that there is no guarantee that you will be employed at an election, and due to the increased workload during elections we will only contact you if you have been successfully appointed.

For each election, the Returning Officer appoints polling and counting staff, and some staff for other duties, for example clerks for the opening of postal votes.