The Local Elections (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021

Appointment of polling and counting agents

33.—(1) A candidate may, before the poll begins, appoint—

(a)polling agents to attend at polling stations for the purpose of detecting personation, and

(b)counting agents to attend at the counting of votes.

(2) The same person may be appointed as a polling agent or counting agent by more than one candidate.

(3) The maximum number of polling agents who may attend a polling station is four or such greater number as the returning officer may by notice permit.

(4) If the number of polling agents appointed to attend at a particular polling station exceeds four (or any greater number that the returning officer has by notice permitted)—

(a)the returning officer must decide which agents are permitted to attend by lot, and

(b)only the agents on whom the lot falls are to be treated as having been appointed.

(5) The returning officer may impose a limit on the number of counting agents who may be appointed by each candidate but the limit—

(a)must be the same for all the candidates, and

(b)unless there are special circumstances, must not be less than the number obtained by dividing the number of clerks employed at the count by the number of candidates (ignoring any remainder).

(6) For the purposes of the calculations required by paragraph (5), a counting agent who has been appointed for more than one candidate is a separate agent for each of the candidates by whom they have been appointed.

(7) The candidate must give a notice to the returning officer where polling agents or counting agents are appointed.

(8) The notice must—

(a)give the names and addresses of the persons appointed, and

(b)be given no later than the fifth day before the day of the poll, disregarding any excluded day.

(9) If a polling agent or counting agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, the candidate—

(a)may appoint another agent instead, and

(b)must immediately give the returning officer a notice stating the other agent’s name and address.