Combined election 2023 - 4 May 2023

We are now recruiting staff for the combined Middlesbrough Mayoral and local elections 2023, which will be held on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Roles available

Please only apply for roles that you can commit to.

Bagbuster / Runner

Working as part of a team in the count venue, you'll be responsible for collecting ballot boxes, unused ballot papers, and other documents and equipment when they're delivered by Presiding Officers. You'll need to deliver these quickly and efficiently to the right teams, and help with sorting and packing documents and equipment.

Hours of work
9:30pm to 2am (approximately) on Thursday 4 May

Rate of pay
£76 for the first 4 hours, then £19 every hour after that (if needed)

Presiding Officer

Presiding Officers are responsible for conduct in their polling station, and must have a good knowledge of the voting procedures. As a Presiding Officer, you'll be responsible for complying with all instructions, and ensuring the integrity and secrecy of the ballot. You'll assign work to the Poll Clerk(s), ensure the accuracy of the poll, and account for all of the ballot papers. You'll be responsible for collecting and delivering your ballot box, and you may be responsible for ensuring your polling building is open and closed on voting day.

You must have previous experience as a Poll Clerk.

Hours of work
6:30am to 10pm on Thursday 4 May. You'll also need to attend a training session before voting day.

Rate of pay
£300

Poll Clerk

As Poll Clerk, you'll help the Presiding Officer to run the polling station. You'll help to set up polling station equipment, assist with issuing ballot papers to members of the public, mark the electoral register, and help with accurately completing paperwork.

Hours of work
6:30am to 10pm on Thursday 4 May. You'll also need to attend a training session before voting day.

Rate of pay
£200.06

Count Assistant

The role of count staff is to open ballot boxes, verify that the number of votes in the ballot boxes matches the number of ballot papers issued, then count the votes for each candidate in the election.

A Count Assistant's duties are straightforward but carried out in an environment which can, at times, be pressurised, as the count is undertaken in the presence of candidates, their counting agents, and other observers. You must take great care to help avoid mistakes.

Hours of work
9:30pm to 2am (approximately) on Thursday 4 May
9:30am to 4pm (approximately) on Friday 5 May

Rate of pay
Thursday - £64 for the first 4 hours, then £16 per hour
Friday - £44 for the first 4 hours, then £11 per hour

Security Assistant

Working at the count venue, you'll be responsible for checking the identity of those entering, and recording attendance. This will include candidates, their agents, and media representatives, as well as count staff.

Hours of work
9:30pm to 2am (approximately) on Thursday 4 May
9:30am to 4pm (approximately) on Friday 5 May

Rate of pay
Thursday - £64 for the first 4 hours, then £16 per hour
Friday - £44 for the first 4 hours, then £11 per hour

Postal Vote Opener

Postal Vote Openers ensure that the postal packs returned by electors (or their proxies) who have chosen to vote by post, rather than in person at a polling station, are opened, checked, verified, and tallied in a secure way. Votes for candidates are not counted as part of this process.

Hours of work
10am to 4pm on Friday 28 April, Tuesday 2 May, and Wednesday 3 May 2023 at Middlesbrough Town Hall
7pm to 12am on Thursday 4 May 2023 at Middlesbrough Sports Village
You must be able to attend all 4 sessions.

Rate of pay
£13 per hour for Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
£16 per hour for Thursday

Count Team Leader / Senior Count Assistant

You'll be training and supervising a team of Count Assistants, and ensuring data is entered into our count system accurately.

You must have previous experience of working at the count.

Hours of work
9:30pm to 2am (approximately) on Thursday 4 May
9:30am to 4pm (approximately) on Friday 5 May

Rate of pay (Count Team Leader)
Thursday: £104 for the first 4 hours, then £26 per hour
Friday: £76 for the first 4 hours, then £19 per hour

Rate of pay (Senior Count Assistant)
Thursday: £80 for the first 4 hours, then £20 per hour
Friday: £56 for the first 4 hours, then £14 per hour

Apply

All applications to work at elections are made through our secure online portal, MEA.

Please email recruitelections@middlesbrough.gov.uk with your name and home address (including postcode). We'll then send you a link and login details for MEA, so you can set your availability and choose your preferred role.

Please only apply for roles that you can commit to.

Middlesbrough Council employees

Middlesbrough Council currently allows time off for employees to carry out roles which take place during normal working hours. You do not need to take annual leave or flexi-time. However, you must get approval from your line manager before applying.