Elections funding
Published 12 February 2026
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Representation of the People Bill 2026: Resourcing of elections delivery
Elections are major operations with strict legal deadlines, and they only succeed with the right resources in place. Delivering an essential event of this scale, and ensuring it’s carried out to the highest standards, depends on councils making their staff and other resources available to Returning Officers. To support the efficient and effective delivery of elections in a changing landscape, we are taking forward legislative changes to ensure that there is greater consistency in legislation across Great Britain regarding the use of local authority resources at UK Parliamentary elections.
Summary of measures in the Bill
Use of local authority resources
To support the efficient and effective delivery of elections in a changing landscape, we are taking forward measures in the Representation of the People Bill to ensure the legislation on the use of council resources at UK Parliamentary elections is consistent with that for other types of poll, providing clarity and consistency on the use of local authority staff by Returning Officers.
Seniority of Returning Officer role
Provisions in the Bill will amend existing legislation to mandate that the (Acting) Returning Officer role in Great Britain be held by a senior officer of the local authority. It is very important for Returning Officers to have a level of authority and control that enables direction of local authority officers and resources where this is needed to deliver a poll. This is sometimes referred to as being able to direct a ‘whole-council approach’ to deliver electoral events and to undertake any necessary actions should issues arise.