| Sharing our good
practice
We often ask colleagues across
the country, using our contacts in the Association of Electoral
Administrators, for their assistance. Likewise, we work especially
closely with our colleagues in the Shropshire district and borough
councils in promoting a quarterly training meeting which allows for
the exchange of ideas and good practice.
In this section of our website,
we offer some examples of documents and guides that we have
produced and that have been found helpful by other
colleagues.
Polling District Reviews
We completed the review of
polling districts that was required under the Electoral
Administration Act 2006 in March 2008. Two of the key documents
that we used in that process are found here.
Polling District Review 2007 - Returning Officer's Proposals
Document - Microsoft Word (.doc)
Polling District Review 2007 - Recommendations to Council Document
- Microsoft Word (.doc)
Parish Reviews
Telford
and Wrekin Council has now been
granted powers to review the parish areas and electoral
arrangements in its area in accordance with Part 4 of the Local
Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Our office
guide to the new powers granted in this Act is included
here.
Parish Reviews - Guidance Document
- Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 -
Microsoft Word (.doc)
Canvass and the Electoral Register
Our Manual for canvassers for
the electoral register is included here, along with some other
documents that we have shared with other authorities during recent
months.
Canvassers Guidance Manual -
Microsoft Word (.doc)
Parish Elections and Support for Parish
Clerks
We encourage our Parish Clerks
to work with us when they have a casual vacancy on their councils
and in the conduct of parish elections. We also hold briefings for
clerks in advance of the ordinary elections.
Parish Polls
We were required to run our
first parish poll in December 2007. With our colleagues at
Winchester City Council, we produced a complete pack of materials
for administering a parish poll. This pack can be obtained by
contacting us from the contacts given on our home page. Guidance
for parish clerks and others on parish polls is included
here.
Conduct of
Elections
For the local elections in
2007, we prepared a Polling Station Manual for presiding officers
and poll clerks, Count Instructions for our counting staff, and a
Deputy Returning Officer's Manual for the deputy returning officers
that were required at that count. Our Count Reconciliation Sheet
helps to ensure that every ballot paper that has been used is
accounted for in the count.
Candidates
Our local guidance for
candidates includes our 'purdah' restrictions. After local
elections, we take feedback from candidates and agents to help us
improve our service.
Postal Vote
Opening
We have just over 36,000 postal
voters, and opening the postal votes is a challenging logistical
exercise in the administration of our elections. Our floor plan,
instructions for staff and rejection dockets are included
here. |