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

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

Proceedings were informally suspended early on Monday after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility by a number of representatives", a notice said.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

It added that if only one person is nominated, the returning officer will confirm that person as party leader.

From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2024

The date of the poll is decided by MPs and the returning officer works backwards from that date, often scrambling to organise ballot papers, polling stations and staff on a short timescale.

From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2024

As I was paid secretary and returning officer I did not formally associate myself with any party, though my general sympathy with my old colleagues was well known.

From The History of the Fabian Society by Edward R. Pease