Appointing a scrutineer
A scrutineer is someone a candidate chooses to watch over election activities on their behalf. They play an important role in ensuring the fair conduct of elections.
Scrutineers can observe when:
- ballot packs are posted
- post office boxes are opened and emptied
- ballot boxes are opened and emptied
- ballot paper envelopes are processed
- ballot papers are extracted
- votes are counted.
They can also challenge ballot paper formality during the vote counting.
A candidate cannot be a scrutineer for themselves or any other candidates.
The Scrutineer Handbook provides everything you need to know about a scrutineer’s role in a local council election. Some PDF documents contain content which cannot be read by a screen reader.
If you have blindness, low vision, or other accessibility requirements, please contact us for an alternative format by calling 8620 1316 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
How to become a scrutineer
Before you can observe an election activity, you must be appointed by a candidate. You need to:
- complete the appropriate 'Appointment and declaration of scrutineer form' linked below
- make sure your candidate has signed the form
- bring the candidate-signed form to the venue and sign the declaration section in front of an election official during registration.
If you print your form, you must print both sides.