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

However, the by-election's acting returning officer said polling station staff were trained to look for undue influence on voters and "no such issues" had been reported during polling hours.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

Lawyers on behalf of the acting returning officer attended the hearing, but made no representations, and no other party was represented.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

Jean-Claude Nguyen, the returning officer in Nunavut, is responsible for conducting the election in the district.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2025

The returning officer will issue details of venues in the constituency where they can support the recall.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2024

The jury of the Leet formed the special jury for the government of the borough, and the bailiff was the returning officer for elections, as well as clerk of the market.

From Bygone Cumberland and Westmorland by Daniel Scott