Working on elections

Working on postal votes or at the verification and count

Other roles

Postal Vote Openers

Postal Vote openers assist with the opening of returned postal voting ballot packs.  Work is available over a number of sessions from around ten days before an election and running up until the night of polling day. Sessions before polling day are held at the CDC Council Offices, Castle Quay, Banbury. On polling day evening, the session is at Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury. They are required to work as part of a team and can indicate which sessions they are available to work.

Verification and Count Assistant 

Verification and count assistants are responsible for accurately sorting and counting ballot papers. Count assistants work in small teams overseen by a Verification and Count Supervisor. 

Every person attending the count will be required to maintain the secrecy of voting and remain neutral at all times. 

The verification and count of ballot papers usually take place the day after an election at Spiceball Leisure Centre, Banbury. however these arrangements are confirmed nearer the time an election is held.

For the County Council elections being held on Thursday 1 May 2025, the verification of ballot papers will take place at Spiceball Leisure Centre starting approximately at 9.30pm until the early hours on 2 May 2025.

The Count will be taking place at a regionalised count being held in Abingdon on 2 May 2025. Staff will need to be available from approximately 8am which includes travel time by coach. Count assistants cannot also work the overnight verification of ballot papers.