A briefing for local agents European Parliamentary election, 4 June 2009

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

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 – campaign’s 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

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

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

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

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 voter’s 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

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

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

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

Electoral processes

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.

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 candidate’s 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.

Verification and count Two stages at a European Parliamentary election: verification of ballot papers and count It is the LRO’s decision when to hold the verification and local counting of the votes Verification centre will open to candidates, agents, observers and LRO’s 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 LRO’s 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

Spending issues

Party election agents and sub-agents must not incur any spending unless they are authorised by the party’s registered treasurer (or campaigns officer)

Contacts

Electoral Services Office – x council Highways department Electoral Commission –Midlands Office –Eastern and South East Office –London Office –North of England Office –South West Office –Party and Election Finance

X Council Electoral Services Staff Manager Nominations Officer Postal Votes Officer Polling Stations Officer General enquiries

Useful References European Parliamentary Elections Regulations 2004 European Parliamentary Elections (Amendment) Regulations 2009 Guidance for Candidates and Agents available to download from

Questions

Thank you