Employment at elections

When is election work available?

Scheduled elections usually take place on the first Thursday of May. Other by-elections for MPs, MSPs, or local councillors can take place at any other time of the year, and on any weekday. 

These polls are all run from 7am to 10pm. If you work at a polling station you need to arrive by 6.30am to have time to get everything ready.

Polling station staff are not permitted to leave the premises between 7am and 10pm. You should take enough food and drink with you for the whole day.

The votes are usually counted and results are announced at night after the polls close (10pm on polling day), although in some polls this can be the day after the election. The length of time a count takes depends on the type of election, how many people turned out to vote, and whether re-counts are required. You must be prepared to stay as long as it takes.

Where are the jobs?

Polling stations are located across South Lanarkshire. 

You should be prepared to travel anywhere in the council area and we cannot guarantee you will be asked to work at a polling station closest to where you live.

The election count usually takes place at John Wright Sports Centre, East Kilbride.

Who can apply?

The minimum requirements are set out in Eligibility

If you are appointed to work at a polling station, you must remain politically impartial when you are working at the election. This means you cannot publicly show your support for a particular political party or candidate in any way.

How do I prove I am entitled to work in the UK?

If you are appointed to work at a polling station, you will need to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK by showing us either:

• your valid passport, or 
• your birth certificate and proof of National Insurance number (for example, P60, P45, payslip)

Who are you looking for?

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic staff.  

To work at a polling station, you should have excellent customer service skills and attention to detail. You will need to ensure that the proper procedures for voting are followed including checking voter identification.

We expect anyone working at an election to act impartially and be polite and professional in dealing with all voters, candidates, and agents, Electoral Commission representatives, and any accredited observers.  

Further details for each job role can be found on this page.

How many jobs are available?

For scheduled elections, we usually employ approximately 650 temporary staff to work at polling stations. 

For by-elections during the rest of the year, the number of staff needed depends on the type of election and how many polling stations are needed.

How do you appoint staff?

Appointments are temporary and made by the Returning Officer rather than the council. The council’s usual recruitment policies and procedures do not apply, but we follow the principles of equal opportunities and good employment practices.  

Anyone who is not given a role is automatically added to our reserve list and may be contacted closer to election day if a role becomes available.

When will I know if you want me to work?

We will contact you directly by email if we wish to appoint you to a role. We will not generally notify you if you have not been appointed to a role.

If you are not given a role, we will add you to our reserve list in case any staff drop out closer to polling day.

Please do not contact us to check if your application has been received. If you receive our automatic email response, we have received your application.

Will training be provided?

Yes. All polling staff must take part in our training sessions. More details of the training session we want you to attend will be included in your appointment letter.

More details will be included in your appointment letter.

Who will I be working with?

You will be supported by experienced staff.

If you are employed to work in a polling station, you will usually be working with two or three other staff. 

How much do you pay?

Pay rates vary depending on the role and type of poll. Fees for attending training and travel expenses will also be paid where appropriate.

The amounts will be confirmed before polling day.

All fees are subject to tax on a PAYE basis but are exempt from National Insurance contributions.

The amount we pay for each role is regularly reviewed.

Can election work affect my benefits/pension?

Yes, any election work you do may affect any benefit or state pension received. You will be responsible for telling your benefit or pension provider about your earnings.

How can I vote if I am working at a polling station?

If you are working at a polling station, you may want to apply for a postal or proxy vote. Please apply to the Electoral Registration Office.

Will there be more opportunities to work at elections?

We are always looking to add people to our elections staff database.

We must stress that being appointed to work at an election is not a guarantee of work at future elections. The work available depends on the number of applications and available vacancies. We also cannot guarantee that you will always work with the same people or in the same location.