Appointing a scrutineer
Scrutineers are an important part of election integrity.
Candidates can appoint scrutineers to observe certain election activities before, on, and after election day. Scrutineers can observe any part of election processes where election officials handle ballot materials. This is to make sure the election is being conducted in a fair, impartial and transparent manner.
There are certain activities where scrutineers can formally challenge ballot paper formality, the interpretation of preferences or seal discrepancies.
These activities include:
- opening and checking sealed ballot boxes or parcels of ballot papers
- counting, rechecking, distributing and recounting ballot papers
- recording preferences by election officials assisting voters or transposing braille ballot papers.
There are other activities that scrutineers can observe and scrutinise but cannot formally challenge. These include:
- declaration vote processing
- sorting and processing early and postal votes
- dispatching postal ballot packs
- statistical counts conducted for information purposes only.
Our Information for scrutineers page has a full list of activities and detailed explanations of activities that can or cannot be challenged.
Scrutineer quotas
The scrutineer quota limits how many scrutineers can be present at an activity. The quota varies and is usually based on the number of election officials engaged in the activity.
For example, if there are 3 election officials at one voting centre issuing ballot papers, a candidate may appoint up to 3 scrutineers to that voting centre.
We'll give candidates an indication of the expected number of staff at the venue and how many scrutineers may attend each activity. Please note, staff numbers are indicative and can sometimes change.
Candidates are responsible for sharing the activity dates, times, venues and any changes we communicate with their appointed scrutineers.
Appointing a scrutineer
Candidates must complete an appointment and declaration of scrutineer form ahead of time for each scrutineer at each venue. This form is available in the candidate kit, which we''ll upload to this website shortly.
A scrutineer is appointed for the specific district or region election. If they’re appointed for multiple candidates, they need a separate appointment form for each candidate and each venue they attend.
The scrutineer must bring a hard copy of the form signed by the candidate to the venue and then sign the declaration in front of an election official during registration. If they don't bring this appointment form, the scrutineer cannot attend the counting venue.
Scrutineer responsibilities
It's important scrutineers are familiar with the ballot paper formality rules before observing any counting activities. Please read the scrutineer handbook before observing any election activities.
Our determination on scrutineer activitiessets out important information about what a scrutineer can and cannot observe and challenge, and the rules they must comply with.