When there is an election, temporary staff are employed by the Returning Officer to run the polling stations and to count the votes.
Polling stations
Presiding Officers and Poll Clerks are appointed to run the polling stations.
Polling hours are from 7am to 10pm so be aware it is a long day.
Where possible, we employ staff based on each island to run their local polling station.
Presiding Officers are paid £364.23 and Poll Clerks £268.97 for the day. They also have training for which they earn an additional fee.
Count
Count staff are appointed for the verification and counting of the votes.
Counting is either done overnight after the polls close or the next day.
Count staff will be paid a standard rate of £19.61 per hour for night-time work and £16.25 per hour for day-time work (with a guaranteed minimum of four hours’ pay).
When counting for multi-member vacancies (which would always be during the day), some Count staff will be paid an enhanced rate of £19.61 per hour (with a guaranteed minimum of four hours’ pay) to act as Accountants.
Eligibility
To work in a polling station or at the count:
• you must be at least 18 years old;
• you must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom; and
• you must not have been employed by or on behalf of a candidate in or about the election.
Register your interest in elections work
Would you like to be added to our elections staff database to be considered for work at election time? If so, please email us at elections@scilly.gov.uk or write to us at the Elections Office, Council of the Isles of Scilly, Old Wesleyan Chapel, Garrison Lane, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0JD. Details of how we handle your personal information may be found in our privacy statement.
Please note we cannot guarantee a position for you. When we are allocating staff for elections, if we can offer you a position, we will contact you.