David Cook, Chief Executive & Returning Officer, Kettering Borough Council

1. Electoral ServicesA ‘Growth Industry’? David Cook, Chief Executive & Returning Officer, Kettering Borough Council

2. More polls Differing voting systems More regulation Higher public and media profile New system of registration Individuals and not households Compulsory or not? Impact on registration levels In Short MORE Complexity Volume Aggro LESS Resource Sympathy Support The Electoral Services Landscape

3. Polls in the next 5 years? • May 2012 Locals (GLA); Mayoral Referendums ; Council Tax • Nov 2012 Police & Crime Commissioners; Mayoral elections; Neighbourhood Planning Referendums • May 2013 Locals ; Council Tax; • June 2014 Locals; European Parliamentary; Neighbourhood Planning; Council Tax; • May 2015 UK Parliamentary; Locals; Neighbourhood Planning; Council Tax; House of Lords • May 2016 Police & Crime Commissioners s; Locals (GLA); Council Tax; Neighbourhood Planning; Mayoral elections • May 2017 Locals; Council Tax; Neighbourhood. Planning;.

4. Individual Electoral Registration 2012 Secondary legislation 2013 System and transition building 2014 Write-out to households 2015 Household Enquiries 2015 First complete ‘IER’ Register As well as Absent Voter PI Refreshes, Community Governance Reviews, Parliamentary Constituency Boundary Reviews Principal Area Boundary Reviews By Elections, Parish Polls, pre IER registration canvasses MP Recall Petitions Other Referendums plus…….

5. Cabinet Office Overall responsibility for electoral policy matters Leading on cross-cutting developments in electoral policy (such as IER) Legislation & funding for all national polls Legislation for local elections in Home Office Legislation & funding for PCC elections Electoral Commission (from 2001) Other Government Departments AEA (from 1987) ACPO/Police Other stakeholder organisations eg. Scope, RNIB, community groups Royal Mail Suppliers Who are we working with? CLG • Responsibility for the timing and funding of local elections, and boundaries for local electoral areas in England and Wales • Responsibility for Localism Act initiatives, including; - Mayoral referendums - Council Tax referendums - Neighbourhood Planning referendums

6. What’s immediately in front of us in 2012 ? • May elections for some • PCC Elections in November (and Mayoral Elections for some) • Referendums • Mayoral; Council Tax; Neighbourhood Planning • 2012 Canvass • Early publication of Register?

7. PCC Elections – Issues to Consider 1 • PAROs – use of Power of Direction • Liaison with LROs • Project Teams in place • How many Candidates? • Impact of Nomination and Deposit Requirements • Supplementary Vote – Staff and Public Awareness • New format for Ballot Papers • Verification/Count – Location? • Results Collation processes?

8. PCC Elections – Issues to Consider 2 • PAROs will have a power of direction – they need to consider how it will be used • Nomination = Proposer, Seconder and 98 signatories plus £5000 deposit – Impact on Independents • Responsibility for encouraging participation in their area likely to rest with PAROs and LROs – joint media strategy? • Consistency of ballot paper formats? Possible or not? • Verification and Count venues – central, local or a mixture? • LRO likely to have responsibility for local results; PARO for area results

9. Legislation ? LogisticsRunning an Election in the Winter • Adequate lighting on polling station access routes and the building? • Wet leaves gathering on the access route? • Is frost likely to be a problem? • Any evidence of anti-social behaviour? • Any other hazards? (Dead horses!)

10. Election Agents Meeting Agenda • 1. Welcome and Returning/Counting Officer’s Comments • Communications • Integrity • Frivolous Complaints • Do’s and Don’ts • 2. Polling Station Matters • Burton Latimer • Other New Polling Stations • Attendance at Polling Stations (Agents, Candidates and Tellers) • Boundary Matters • 3. The Referendum • Regional role • Verification/Count Timeline • Attendance at Verification/Count & Polling Stations (Agents, Candidates & Tellers) • 4. Poll Cards • Mailing • Content 5. Postal Votes • Issue dates • Opening dates and times • Attendance at opening • Checking of Identifiers • Signatures • Lost/Spoilt Postal Votes • Collection from Polling Stations • Local Code of Conduct • 6. Pre-polling day • Nominations • Inspection and Objection • The Register of Electors • Supply of Lists • Deadlines for Absent Voting and Registration • Supply of forms for the above • 7. Polling day • Polling Station Inspectors • Tellers and Polling Agents • Delivery of Ballot Boxes • 8. Verification and Count • Venue • Time • Arrangements for Access/Attendance • Processes • 9. After Polling Day • Marked Registers • Receipted Postal Votes List • Return and Declaration of Election Expenses • Inspection and Supply of Documents • 10. Any other Items from the Agents

11. The Count • Signing in and signing up to acceptable behaviour guidelines • ‘Who does what Guide’ • Information Points • Media access • Room set up • The Count Process

12. Behaviour GuidelinesThe following guidelines have been developed to ensure the smooth running of The Count Yes please: • Wear your lanyard and badge at all times • Comply with the rules on the requirements for secrecy at the count • Count Agents please only ask questions of the count supervisor and not the count staff • Use the information points to compare results including previous years • Candidates may wish to familiarise themselves with the media area for interview and comment • Use the refreshment points provided • Use the television points to keep up with national events No thank you: • Do not interfere with the work of the election staff in any way or touch a ballot paper • Please do not switch your mobile phone on or use it in the count hall • Do not use a camera in the count venue (unless you are Press and are within the designated press area) • Do not bring alcohol or food into the count venue • Do not engage in inappropriate behaviour (to be determined by the Acting Returning Officer in his absolute discretion) Please note that those permitted entry into the Count Hall will only be granted access once they have signed to say that they will abide by the above guidelines.This is very important in order to ensure the smooth running of the count

13. The Count • Signing in and signing up to acceptable behaviour guidelines • ‘Who does what Guide’ • Information Points • Media access • Room set up • The Count Process

14. The Count Process

17. The Count at SV Elections • SV Counts are new to most people • Get some learning! • Timing of Verifications and Counts • Counting Conditions - Heating, Lighting etc • Core Teams • Breaks between processes • Processes – Templates; Colour Coding; Audit Trails; Transparency • Doubtful Ballot Paper Adjudications • Reliable outcome

18. Role of the Electoral Commission • Directions for the 2011 AV Referendum • Views differ – any thoughts? • Performance Standards in 2012 and onwards • Timing of Counts • Accuracy and Completeness of Registers

19. ‘The Returning Officer must demonstrate that they have prepared a project plan, that it is treated as a ‘living document’ and kept under regular review, and is used to monitor progress and report on lessons learnt’ ‘Prepare a project plan, keep it under review and use it as a tool to monitor progress. ‘ Direction or Performance Standard?

20. Be prepared!! • Adequate staffing • Especially in October and November • Support from your members • Project plans reviewed and in place • Risk Registers reviewed and in place • Project Teams in place • Liaise with colleagues and stakeholders • Learn the new stuff!!