On THURSDAY, May 6, residents in the Dorset Council area will go to the polls for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections and several town and parish council by-elections.

Referendums on Neighbourhood Plans are also planned for some Dorset towns and villages.

The elections team at Dorset Council is looking for additional polling station staff in the Gillingham and Shaftesbury area.

Vacancies that need filling include a presiding officer, a poll clerk, and a count assistant.

For the presiding officer, the hours are 6.30am to 10.30pm, and the current fee is £210 plus mileage. You must have worked as a poll clerk previously, and a basic understanding of the election process is desirable.

For the poll clerk role, the hours are 6.30am to 10.30pm, and the current fee is £125 plus mileage. A basic understanding of the election process is also desirable.

The hours for a count assistant is 9.45pm until completed, and the current fee is £15 per hour plus mileage.

If you are interested visit the Dorset Council website, take a look at the job descriptions, complete the application form and return it to elections@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

There are a number of ways to have your say in the elections and referendums – you can vote at a polling station in May, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

You can download an application form to vote by post or proxy from the Electoral Commission website.

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