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 and scrutinise certain election processes where election officials handle ballot papers or declaration envelopes. 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. 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.
Candidates will be notified of the details of activities that their scrutineers can observe. For counting activities, this will include the expected number of election officials involved in the activities. This will provide candidates with an indication of how many scrutineers can attend to observe an activity on their behalf in accordance with the scrutineer quota for the activity.
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 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 activities sets out important information about what a scrutineer can and cannot observe and challenge, and the rules they must comply with.