A HUDDERSFIELD firm has been appointed to help with next year’s council elections.

Marketing and communications company Adare, based at Clayton West, will deliver election documents to more than 3m voters across the country.

The material entrusted to the firm includes polling cards, ballot papers, ballot books and postal voting packs. Adare has had to meet stringent security safeguards demanded by official bodies including the Ministry of Justice and the Association of Electoral Administrators to win the contract.

When commentators and politicians speculated last month about the possibility of an early general election, Adare was also poised to deliver materials to the same number of voters to a deadline of just 17 days following a dissolution of parliament.

Angus Walker, business development director for Adare, said: “The key thing is we’re prepared for all types of elections, all year round.

“This includes parliamentary, council, European, regional, mayoral and parish elections.”

Adare’s democratic services team, which handles election material, also acts as a consultant to local authorities – helping to ensure documents comply with complex legislation.

Alistair Cane, executive director of strategic solutions at Adare, said the demands placed on the firm to provide personalised documents for polling day were similar to the ones Adare faced when preparing and mailing highly sensitive documents on behalf of financial clients.

However the volume of material and time pressures were more akin to large direct mail campaigns.

“Distributing polling cards and postal votes is further complicated by the possibility of last-minute changes to those entitled to vote and delivery addresses,” he said.

“Furthermore, up to 10 days before polling day, candidates can withdraw and voters can request postal votes – reducing the time available to deliver vital documents.”

All the work is carried out at Adare’s Park Mill headquarters.