What is the role of the tellers?
Tellers have no legal status and are not amongst the categories of people permitted to enter a polling station. It is a well-established practice for candidates, or their agents, to appoint “tellers” positioned outside polling stations to record the names of electors who have voted, usually by asking for their poll card or electoral number. This is for the purpose of assisting party workers to identify potential supporters who have yet to vote. Tellers cannot enter the polling station, unless it is to cast their own vote or exercise a proxy vote or accompany a voter with disabilities, if requested to do so by that voter. Tellers should not hand out election material, or attempt to influence the way someone should vote. They should not ask any voter who they voted for or how they intend to vote. Voters should not be approached for their card or electoral number unless they have left the polling station, nor should they be asked to re-enter the station to confirm their electoral number.
