A briefing for local agents

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A briefing for local agents

• European Parliamentary election, 4 June 2009

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Types of agents

• National election agents and election agents
• Sub-agents for registered political parties
• Sub-agents for individual candidates
• Polling agents
• Counting agents
• Postal voting agents

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National election agents/ election agents

• For parties must be person appointed by the
  nominating officer (or nominating officer
  himself/herself)
• For individual candidates must be person
  appointed by the candidate (or the candidate
  himself/herself) must accept appointment in
  writing and sign it
• National election agents/election agents are
  responsible for the election campaign
• One exception for parties campaigns financial
  management is responsibility of
  treasurer/registered campaigns officer
• Can observe the postal vote opening, poll, the
  verification count, as well as the delivery of
  nomination papers
• Can appoint sub-agents

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Sub-agents

• Sub-agents are, in effect, deputy election agents
• Can be appointed to act for the whole electoral
  region, plus/or a specific part of the same
  electoral region. Those specific parts may not
  overlap.
• Parties standing in one region only and
  individual candidates sub-agents only to be
  appointed for particular parts of the electoral
  region.
• Appointment
• For parties appointed by (national) election
  agent or person authorised by them. Must give
  notice to RRO.
• For individual candidates appointed by the
  election agent or individual candidate. Must give
  notice to RRO.
• Only one sub-agent may be appointed for the whole
  electoral region, or for any part of the
  electoral region

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Sub-agents

• Anything done by or to a sub-agent in their
  appointed area is deemed to have been done by or
  to the election agent 
• Can observe polling stations, verification
  count, and postal vote openings
• Can appoint polling/ counting/ postal voting
  agents

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Polling agents/ verification count agents/
postal voting agents

• Who can appoint them?
• Election agents, sub-agents, or person
  authorised in writing by them
• Can observe the process they were appointed for
• Purpose is to check that processes are undertaken
  in an orderly, accurate and correct manner

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Polling agents

• Only one per party/individual candidate will be
  allowed into a polling station at any time
• Play a role in detecting personation can ask
  prescribed questions before elector is issued a
  ballot paper
• Should report any improper occurrences to the
  election agent and retain any notes as evidence
• May be present when PO marks ballot papers at a
  voters request
• Can attach seal to ballot box and packets at the
  close of poll (not before)
• MUST maintain the secrecy of the ballot. Can mark
  on their register who has voted, but the marked
  copy must be left in the polling station during
  the hours of poll

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Postal voting agents

• insert maximum number that may be appointed
• Can observe opening of postal voting ballot boxes
• Can observe the opening and verification of the
  returned postal ballot packs
• Can object to postal votes being rejected as a
  result of postal voting statement being rejected
• Not entitled to attend the issue of postal votes

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Verification count agents

• Insert maximum number that may be appointed
• Can observe the verification of the number of
  ballot papers in each ballot box against the
  ballot paper account
• Can challenge doubtful ballot papers, so that
  they are adjudicated by the LRO
• Can object to rejected ballot papers
• MUST NOT TOUCH BALLOT PAPERS!!!
• One counting agent per party or individual
  candidate can ask for recount should be
  indicated on the appointment notice to LRO

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Appointment deadlines

• Appointment of election agents 4pm 7 May
• Last day for appointment of sub-agents 28 May
• Last day for appointment of polling and counting
  agents 28 May
• Postal voting agents notice must be given to LRO
  before the time fixed for the postal vote opening
  session insert info on timings of postal vote
  opening sessions

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Electoral processes
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Postal Voting

• Personal identifiers provide extra security
• absent voters required to provide a sample
  signature and their date of birth on their
  application
• this information is stored electronically to be
  checked against the security statement returned
  with the electors completed postal vote pack
• Code of conduct no candidate, agent or
  supporter should put themselves in a position
  where their honesty or integrity, or that of the
  candidate or party, can be questioned
• It is important that any received applications or
  postal vote packs are returned to the ERO as soon
  as possible to ensure adequate time for
  processing. Deadline 5pm 19 May.

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Polling day

• Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm
• Office open x am to x pm for queries or problems
  relating to the administration of the election
• any queries relating to regulatory issues or
  queries about a candidates campaign literature
  please contact the Electoral Commission (contact
  details shown later)
• Polling station inspectors and their remit
• Tellers refer to guidance
• Canvassing
• Highways guidance for posters
• Postal Votes can be handed into polling
  stations within electoral area or delivered to
  the electoral services office until 10pm.

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Verification and count

• Two stages at a European Parliamentary election
  verification of ballot papers and count
• It is the LROs decision when to hold the
  verification and local counting of the votes
• Verification centre will open to candidates,
  agents, observers and LROs guests from x time on
  y day
• The verification will be held in
• Sports Centre 1, High Street, One town
• The count centre will open to candidates, agents,
  observers and LROs guests from x time on Sunday,
  7 June.
• The count will be held in
• Sports Centre 1, High Street, One town
• Make sure appointments for Counting Agents are
  submitted to the LRO prior to deadline

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Spending issues
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• Party election agents and sub-agents must not
  incur any spending unless they are authorised by
  the partys registered treasurer (or campaigns
  officer)

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Contacts
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Contacts

• Electoral Services Office x council
• 01234 567895
• Highways department 01234 567899
• Electoral Commission
• Midlands Office 02476 820086
• Eastern and South East Office 020 7271 0600
• London Office 020 7271 0689
• North of England Office 01904 567 990
• South West Office 01392 314617
• Party and Election Finance 020 7271 0616

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X Council Electoral Services Staff
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Useful References

• European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004
• European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment)
  Regulations 2009
• Guidance for Candidates and Agents available to
  download from www.electoralcommission.org.uk

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Questions
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Thank you