Greater London Authority elections

This page contains all the guidance and resources that we produce for candidates and their agents at the Greater London Authority elections on 3 May 2012.

You can find additional resources - including nomination papers - on the London Elects website.

Jump to the timetable of key events >

An overview document gives instructions on how to use this guidance and who does what at these elections. Read the Overview for candidates and agents (PDF) >

We welcome feedback from those using our guidance in order to help us improve it:

Feedback on candidates and agents guidance

1 May 2012: Update to Part 1 of Greater London Authority election guidance

We have updated our guidance document Part 1: Can you stand for election? (PDF) following legislative changes affecting politically restricted posts. These changes were already highlighted in the previously published guidance and the changes simply acknowledge that the legislation has been commenced.

Guidance and resources

	Contents Qualifications for standing for election Disqualifications from standing for election	Resources List of Commonwealth countries List of EU member states
Part 1: Can you stand for election? (PDF)
	Contents Completing and submitting your nomination papers The deposit The mayoral address booklet What happens after the close of nominations? Appointing your election agent, sub-agent(s) and other agents What happens if a candidate dies?	Resources For a nomination pack, please contact London Elects
Part 2a: Standing as a candidate for London Mayor (PDF)
	Contents Completing and submitting your nomination papers The deposit What happens after the close of nominations Appointing your election agent, sub-agent(s) and other agents What happens if a candidate dies?	Resources For a nomination pack, please contact your Constituency Returning Officer (see our Overview for candidates and agents (PDF) for how to contact them)
Part 2b: Standing as a Constituency Member candidate (PDF)
	Contents Completing and submitting your nomination papers The deposit What happens after the close of nominations Appointing your election agent, sub-agent(s) and other agents What happens if a candidate dies?	Resources For a nomination pack, please contact London Elects
Part 2c: Standing as a London Member candidate (PDF)
	Contents How much you can spend The activities covered by the rules Which donations you can accept How to check donations you receive What information needs to be recorded and reported	Resources Hustings events (PDF) Splitting spending at GLA elections (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Mayor (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Mayor (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Mayor (PDF) Agent's declaration: Mayor (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Constituency Member/ Individual (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Agent's declaration: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Party list candidates (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Party list candidates (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Party list candidates (PDF) Agent's declaration: Party list candidates (PDF)
Part 3: Spending and donations (PDF)
	Contents Campaigning dos and don'ts Using the electoral register and absent voters' lists Using schools and rooms for public meetings Imprints on campaign publicity material Polling day dos and don'ts Reporting allegations of electoral malpractice	Resources Register request form Absent voters' list request form Tellers’ guidance Tellers’ dos and don’ts Code of conduct on handling absent vote applications and postal votes Secrecy requirements - the poll Secrecy requirements - postal voting Secrecy requirements - the count
Part 4: The campaign (PDF)
	Contents Attending the opening of postal votes and what to expect Attending polling stations and what to expect Attending the count and what to expect	Resources Secrecy requirements - the poll Secrecy requirements - postal voting Secrecy requirements - the count Tellers’ guidance Tellers’ dos and don’ts
Part 5: Your right to attend key electoral events (PDF)
	Contents Making the declaration of acceptance of office Access to election paperwork Submitting your spending returns and declarations Questioning the result through an election petition	Resources Candidate's spending return: Mayor (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Mayor (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Mayor (PDF) Agent's declaration: Mayor (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Constituency Member/ Individual (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Agent's declaration: Constituency Member/ Individual (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Party list candidates (PDF) Candidate's spending return: Party list candidates (XLS) Candidate's declaration: Party list candidates (PDF) Agent's declaration: Party list candidates (PDF)
Part 6: After the declaration of results (PDF)

Timetable for the 3 May 2012 elections

Date	Event
Click here for a detailed timetable for the 2012 elections (DOC)
20 March 2012	Last date for publication of notice of election
23 March 2012	Deadline to apply to register a new party to contest elections
12 noon on 28 March 2012	Close of nominations
25 May 2012*	Last day for receipt of invoices for election spending
1 June 2012*	Last day for payment of invoices for election spending
8 June 2012*	Last day for submitting election spending return - Constituency candidates
13 July*	Last day for submitting election spending return - Candidates for London-wide members and Mayor
7 working days from the day the candidate's spending return is submitted	Last day for receipt of candidate's declaration