returning officer

American  

noun

British.

1. a public official appointed to conduct and preside at an election.

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returning officer British  

noun

1. (in Britain, Canada, Australia, etc) an official in charge of conducting an election in a constituency or electoral district, who supervises the counting of votes and announces the results

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Etymology

Origin of returning officer

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

returning officer

Richardson said Hardings had "publicly admitted full responsibility for the production error", and both the Crown Prosecution Service and the acting returning officer had been made aware of the issue.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

The writ is an order for the election be held, sent from the Speaker to the constituency returning officer, who then sets the date.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2024

The proposed polling day of 5 October was then confirmed by South Lanarkshire's returning officer.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2023

In order for a poll to take place on 20 July, a writ to the returning officer should have been sent by 21 June.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2023

He and his opponent polled exactly the same number of votes, whereupon the mayor, as returning officer, gave his casting vote for the Liberal candidate.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various