Practical Elections Administration

Over recent years, electoral legislation has become ever more complex with many amendments but no consolidation. Thus the law of elections is covered extensively in many sources, notably the 5,000-odd pages of "Schofield's Election Law". However, the practicalities of running elections 'on the ground' can be far removed from the theoretical viewpoint of legislators. What should the over-stretched and harassed Electoral Administrator do when faced with any one of a hundred common - or seemingly unique - problems?This new book, written by one of our most experienced election officers, David Monks, Chief Executive (and therefore Returning Officer) of Huntingdonshire District Council - who was responsible for former Prime Minister John Major's constituency - looks at all aspects of the administration of elections with a view to suggesting best practice in each area and giving practical advice to overcome the sorts of awkward problems that occur at every type of election, such as: Can the Chief Executive still perform as Returning Officer if suspended from the former role? What should the Returning Officer do if presented with a nomination he knows to include false statements? How can the Chief Executive avoid giving the impression of endorsing the nomination of a sitting candidate while performing his routine duties? and, How to control over-enthusiastic election agents?It also looks at: What to do if the school basketball team refuses to vacate the gym to be used as a polling station? What to do when advised that a Presiding Officer has dropped dead? Should polling station staff help out at the count or will they be too tired? Should alcohol be served at the count? and, How to deal with standards of conduct that 'would disgrace a banana republic'.In short, how to run a successful election without ending up in the courts! These are the types of real issues that election officers face in the days leading up to the poll, as well as on the day itself. Thankfully, there is a wealth of experience available from those officers who, between them, have seen most things that can occur.The author has not only called upon his own vast experience but has also consulted widely with colleagues around the country to obtain ideas, suggestions and anecdotes which will help any Electoral Administrator, whether new to the job or long-standing, to resolve virtually any issue that might arise during the 'election season'.

Table of Contents:
1 Returning Officers; 2 Polling Stations; 3 Nominations; 4 The Count; 5 Appointing Staff; 6 Candidates and Agents; 7 Dealing with the Media; 8 Managing Suppliers and Outsourcing; 9 Electoral Integrity; 10 Petitions; 11 Insurance; 12 Postal Voting; 13 Finance; 14 The Election Timetable; 15 Combined Elections; 16 Some Concluding Thoughts...