Polling station staff briefing session The Northern Ireland Assembly and local government elections and the referendum on the voting system for UK Parliamentary elections – 5 May 2011

Introduction Counting Officer Electoral services manager

Objectives of the training session Your role is key – you are the customer service face of the elections and referendum. At this session we will: –outline what we expect you to do on polling day –discuss the voting procedure –think about health and safety issues –highlight a number of administrative arrangements

Key aims for the elections and referendum that the polls are consistently administered that the process is transparent that the polls are professionally delivered that they produce accurate results in which all stakeholders are confident that all voters have a good experience, with any person who is entitled to vote being able to do so

Voting at the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government elections On 5 May 2011 there will be a Northern Ireland Assembly election to elect MLAs to the Northern Ireland Assembly There will also be local government elections to district councils in Northern Ireland to elect councillors Both elections will use the Single Transferrable Vote system (STV) Voters record their vote by placing a ‘1’ opposite the name of the candidate of their first choice and then ‘2’ opposite the name of the candidate of their second choice, and so on.

Overview of the Referendum A referendum is a direct vote in which the electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal On 5 May there will be a referendum on the voting system for UK Parliamentary elections Voters have one vote and should mark a cross (X) in either the ‘yes’ or the ‘no’ box on the ballot paper

Provision of voter information on the referendum in response to questions on what the referendum is about you should be politically neutral and in no way be or be interpreted to be supporting one option or the other use the FAQs document and take care not to stray from the provided answersFAQs

It is essential that you… – act impartially at all times – comply with any instructions issued by the Counting Officer ensure the secrecy and security of the ballot

The Presiding Officer – management of the polling station Liaise with the key-holder of the building Organise the layout of the polling station Instruct and supervise the work of the Poll Clerks Account for all the ballot papers, ballot boxes and paperwork

The Poll Clerk – general duties Assist with the layout of the polling station and prepare for the opening of the poll Be polite and professional in dealing with the voters Check that electors are eligible to vote in the referendum and at that polling station Understand the process for issuing ballot papers

Countdown to polling day Essential tasks –Visit polling place and check out contact and access arrangements –Check out arrangements for ballot box collection and check contents as soon as possible –Contact other members of the team –Dress code – ensure clothing reflects professionalism and impartiality but is also comfortable

Risks Can’t make contact with key-holder Can’t gain access to the polling station Staff failing to turn up or being late Problems affecting the display of notices Wrong registers allocated to the station The ballot paper numbers do not match those pre-printed on the CNL(s) Tendered ballot papers wrongly issued Queues building up at the close of poll

The Polling Station Setting up, layout and who can enter the polling station

Setting up the polling station Layout / notices (see set-up checklist in Appendix 11 to Polling station handbook) –must work primarily for the voter –walk route voter expected to follow –accessible to all voters Location of ballot box(es) –accessible and secure Arrange each set of ballot papers in numerical order Tellers, campaigners and agents –who can enter the polling station? Sealing the box(es)

Polling station layout

Who can enter the polling station? –Voters –Counting Officer and staff –Candidates and election agents –Referendum agents –polling agents –Police officers on duty –Representatives of the Electoral Commission –Accredited observers –Under 18s accompanying voters –Companions of voters with disabilities

Two types of ID issued by the Electoral Commission

Customer care Show a personal interest Be helpful and approachable Listen and empathise with them Allow them to put their point across before responding Don’t say ‘No’, tell them what you can do for them and what they can do But the election and referendum rules must be followed at all times, no matter how insistent, upset or angry they are If in doubt, contact the elections office

Customer care (cont’d) Ensure that the voting process is accessible to all: –layout must work for all voters, including wheelchair users –stationery provided in alternative languages and formats should be clearly visible –you must be able to provide information to disabled electors on options for voting aided and unaided

Tactile voting template Tactile template needs to be clearly visible and you should be confident in using it How to use

Who can and cannot vote? Using the electoral register and corresponding number list(s)

Who is eligible to vote at the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government elections? Electors with no letters or dates before their name Electors who are 18 years of age or over Electors with a ‘G’ before their name Electors with a ‘K’ before their name Electors with an ‘L’ before their name

Who is eligible to vote at the polling stations at the referendum? Electors with no letters or dates before their name Electors who are 18 years of age or over Electors with an ‘E’ before their name Electors with an ‘F’ before their name Electors with an ‘L’ before their name

Issuing the ballot papers Marking the register and the CNL –Make the elector confirm their name –Mark electors’ elector number in the registerMark electors’ elector number in the register –Enter the electors’ elector number on the Corresponding Number List(s) (CNL(s))Enter the electors’ elector number on the Corresponding Number List(s) (CNL(s)) –Do NOT write the elector number on the ballot paper! Ballot papers –Open up fully so the whole paper is visible. –Official mark –Ballot paper number and unique Identifying Mark (UIM)Ballot paper number and unique Identifying Mark (UIM)

Marking the register Red Dragon Walk BC JP12 7AS 411 GVella, Gosia1 412 FTaber, Louise1 413 KVella, Kostas Brown, Robert3 415Evans, Gareth Barker, Peter7 417Jolly, Simon7 418 ABishop, Stephanie /102 FebSmith, Ben13 Click to: return to slide

Example Corresponding Number List (CNL) BC 27/1 Click to: return to slide

Reverse of a ballot paper

Marking the ballot paper for the Northern Ireland Assembly and local government elections Some electors may need to have the voting process for both elections explained to them: The Single Transferable Vote (STV) system of proportional representation is used to elect Members of the Assembly and the Northern Ireland Local Government. Voters in each constituency vote for as many candidates as they wish in order of preference, putting a ‘1’ beside their first choice, a ‘2’ beside their second choice and so on.

Marking the ballot paper for the referendum Some electors may need to have the referendum voting process explained to them: –voters have one vote, and should place a cross (X) in either the ‘yes’ or the ‘no’ box –If they vote for more than one choice, their ballot paper will not be counted

What happens if…? you are handed a certificate of employment a voter spoils the ballot paper a voter has nominated a proxy but the voter arrives before the proxy a person arrives to vote but the register indicates the person has already voted a person arrives to vote but the register indicates the person is a postal voter a person arrives wanting to vote as an emergency proxy a person believes they should be on the register but they are not listed there is a disturbance at the polling station

The prescribed questions The prescribed questions must be asked: –when you suspect personation –when a registered elector is clearly under age –when a candidate, an election agent or polling agent requests them –always before issuing a tendered ballot paper

Close of Poll The procedures to be followed

Close of Poll Must close at 10 pm Anyone who has been issued with ballot paper(s) by 10 pm must be allowed to vote However cannot issue after 10pm, even if elector was in a queue at 10pm Seal ballot box(es) Candidates and agents entitled to affix seals now that the polls have closed.

After close of poll Absolutely essential that the ballot paper account is completed accurately The ballot paper account must be placed in the envelope provided – keep this with the ballot box(es) Ensure all documents placed in correct packets and signed as appropriate Poll clerks to assist packing up station to allow presiding officer to do these important tasks

Health and safety never put the safety of anyone inside the polling station at risk be aware to any potential risks to safety inspect the premises regularly if hazards are discovered – find a remedy if an accident occurs – follow procedures be careful when lifting heavy objects

Questions

Additional Information Election team contact Electoral Commission website – – Feedback Sheets