Candidates and Agents

Role of the candidate’s agents

Candidates wishing to appoint Agents must complete an Appointment of Candidate’s Agent form for each agent. The Agent must present the appointment form to the Supervising Deputy Returning Officer at the poll and must make a declaration before the Deputy Returning Officer.

During voting hours, two (2) Agents, in addition to the Candidate, are allowed in each polling place. After Close of Polls, only either the Candidate, or one (1) of the Agents is entitled to be present at each polling place to observe the printing of the tabulated vote results which will be done electronically.

Once the Agent makes the declaration, the Agent is permitted to be at the poll in a location designated by the Supervising Deputy Returning Officer so that he or she may observe the conduct of the election.
Candidates and their agents may enter and leave as they please during the hours that the poll is open, provided that no candidate has more than the allowed number of agents present at one time.

Candidates and agents have the right to:

• be in the polling place to observe proceedings while voters are voting; and
• object to the entitlement of any voter intending to vote; they may examine a voter’s evidence of identity and may request verification of vouching procedure.

Candidates or agents do not have the authority to:

• directly question a voter;
• attempt to influence a voter;
• enter the polling place after the polls close; or
• canvass or solicit votes or persuade a person not to vote within 100 metres of a polling place.

Candidates and agents are obliged to maintain the secrecy of the voting at the polling place. Failure to do so is an offence under The Local Government Election Act, 2015.