Members of the public are gearing up to help out when Swindon goes to the polls for the General Election on July 4.

Whether local or national, elections in Swindon are run by the borough council.

The authority has enough people on the books to cover the workload this year, but you might be able to offer your services for future elections.

There are two main roles - being a poll clerk at a polling station on election day, and being a teller, counting the votes.

The borough council’s website says: “Poll clerks are employed to carry out duties at polling stations. They are responsible for making sure that the proper procedures for voting are followed in polling stations.

On election day, polling staff are required to work from 6:30am until 10.00pm without leaving the polling station. Staff are also required to undertake training prior to the day which will be provided online.”

If 15.5 hours in a community centre or primary school isn’t quite to your liking, you could try and be a vote counter, although don’t expect to get much sleep.

The council says of election counts: “This usually takes place after the polling stations have closed on the night of election and continues into the early hours of the following morning.

“This role requires high levels of concentration and accuracy.”

You must be over 18 to take a role as an election officer or counter and eligible to work in the UK. Political restrictions will apply, meaning you may not be allowed to do any work for or promote the campaign of any political party or candidate.

The roles are paid.

Rates of pay vary depending on the role and the type of election, but this year poll clerks in Swindon will be paid £183 for their long day, and the standard counting assistant fee is £13.50 per hour.

Barring something unforeseen, the next elections to be held in Swindon will be in May 2026, when all 57 seats at Swindon Borough Council will be up for re-election, and there will also be parish council elections.

After that, the next borough council elections will be in 2030 as the authority has voted to change to ‘all out’ elections every four years.

After the July 4 General Election, the next parliamentary election must be held by summer 2029.