This guidance aims to provide practical advice for anyone who wants to stand as a candidate at a parish council election in England. Standing for election can be complicated, but we hope that our guidance will make it as straightforward as possible.

Candidates and their agents must follow certain rules set out in legislation. Our guidance sets out the stages that you need to go through when standing at a parish council election. You do not have to follow this guidance, but if you do, you will normally be doing enough to comply with the law.

It includes relevant factual material as well as links to sources of further information. Each section includes a number of forms and resources, which can be directly accessed via links in the text.

You can find out more in How to use our guidance.

Election timetable

We have published a generic election timetable on our website. For scheduled polls we will publish a specific timetable which will be made available on our website.

If a by-election has been called, you will be able to obtain a copy of the specific timetable for that election from the Returning Officer.

Data protection

Please note that data protection legislation applies to the processing of all personal data.  Please contact the Information Commissioner's Office for further information about how the current data protection legislation affects you.

We are here to help, so please contact us if you have any questions. Please see Contacting us for contact details.

Terms and expressions we use

You will normally be doing enough to comply with the law if you follow this guidance.

We use ‘must’ when we refer to a specific requirement.  We use ‘should’ for items we consider to be minimum good practice, but which are not legal or regulatory requirements.

We use ‘you’ refer to the candidate in this guidance. When we talk about donations, we use ‘you’ to refer to the person who is responsible at the time for dealing with donations.

Throughout the guidance we have used the term ‘parish council’ to refer to both town and parish councils. 

Some parish councils are subdivided into wards for the purposes of administering elections.  In the case of a parish that is un-warded; any references to ‘ward’ should be read as ‘parish’.

Our guidance is separated out into sections, each of which deals with a different part of the process you will be involved with as a candidate for parish council elections in England.

When you click on a link in the navigation list to the right, it will reveal the links to the different areas of guidance for each section. When you reach the end of a page, you can use the link at the bottom right-hand side to move to the next page of guidance.

Each section provides links to relevant forms and information resources, you will find these embedded in the text. You can also access these in the ‘Resources’ link at the end of the navigation tree.

If you wish to print off all of the guidance you can do so using the link at the top of the page.
Our guidance sets out the stages that candidates and their agents need to go through when standing at a local government election. The areas covered are:
 

If your question is about spending or donations, please contact us at:

Email:  [email protected] (Opens in new window)

Tel:  0333 103 1928

For any other queries, please contact us at:

Email:  [email protected] (Opens in new window)

Tel:  0333 103 1928

Before starting the process of standing for election, potential candidates need to be confident that they meet all of the requirements.  

They also need to be aware of the rules that apply to candidates relating to spending and donations.

This guidance sets out details of:

• When do you officially become a candidate?    
• Who is responsible for candidate spending and donations?
• Qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election 
• Appointing your postal voting, polling and counting agents    
   

The Returning Officer

Parish council elections are run by the Returning Officer, who is normally a senior officer of the local authority and independent of the authority in respect of their electoral functions. You will be able to contact the Returning Officer for your area by contacting your local elections office. Addresses and telephone numbers of all elections offices can be found on our website www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter. 

The Returning Officer will offer briefings ahead of an election and we strongly encourage you to attend, even if you have stood for election before.

The Electoral Registration Officer

The Electoral Registration Officer is responsible for maintaining the register of electors and absent voters’ lists for their local authority area. The Electoral Registration Officer is normally a senior officer in the local authority and may also be the Returning Officer. You can find the contact details for your Electoral Registration Officer at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter

The Electoral Commission

We are an independent statutory body established in November 2000 by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. We are currently headed by ten Commissioners, including a Chair. We report directly to the UK Parliament through a committee chaired by the Speaker of the House of Commons.

We are responsible for registering political parties and non-party campaigners, the monitoring and publication of significant donations to registered political parties and the regulation of party and non-party campaigner spending at certain elections. We also have a role in promoting voter awareness. We are required to report on the administration of certain electoral events, to keep electoral matters under review and, if requested, must review and report on any electoral matter. We also accredit observers to be present at election proceedings.

We do not run elections but have responsibility for providing advice and assistance on electoral matters to all those involved in elections, including Returning Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, political parties and candidates.

We are here to help, so please get in touch if you have any questions.

The earliest you can officially become a candidate is on the last date for publishing the notice of election, which is 25 working days before the poll.
 
You will officially become a candidate on this day if, on or before this date, you have already declared yourself a candidate at the election (or another person has declared that you are a candidate).

If, after this date, you or others declare that you will be a candidate at the election, you will become a candidate on the date such a declaration is made, or on the date that you submit your nomination papers, whichever is earlier.

The day after the date you officially become a candidate, spending rules will apply.

Once you have officially become a candidate, you are entitled to a copy of the electoral register.1  

You are also entitled to a copy of the lists of absent voters for the parish area or, if your parish is warded, for the ward you are standing in.
 
In addition, you can use publicly funded rooms and schools for public meetings. 

You can start campaigning before you officially become a candidate. More information is set out in our guidance on campaigning. 
 

Candidates at parish council elections must follow certain rules about how much they can spend, and what they must report after the election.  

They must also ensure that their spending return is complete and correct to the best of their knowledge.

This means that candidates need to be fully aware of the rules and ensure that they are following them.

After the election, candidates must sign a declarations to say that their spending return is complete and correct to the best of their knowledge.

Spending

The rules apply to spending on activities to promote your candidacy, or to criticise other candidates, during a particular period in the run-up to the election.

This period is called the ‘regulated period’. When we use the term ‘regulated period’ we mean the time when spending limits and rules apply.

It is your responsibility to fully and accurately report candidate spending. You should ensure you understand the rules and that all spending is properly authorised, recorded and reported.

Candidate spending includes any expenses incurred, whether on goods, services, property or facilities, for the purposes of the candidate’s election during the regulated period.

By ‘incur’ we mean make a legal commitment to spend money, such as confirming an order.

This includes: 

• items or services bought before the regulated period begins, but used during it
• the value items or services given to you free of charge or at a non-commercial discount of more than 10% - known as ‘notional spending’

There are rules covering:

• who can authorise spending and pay for items and services
• how much you can spend
• which activities count towards your spending limit
• deadlines for receiving and paying invoices
• what records you must keep
• how and when you report your spending

Candidate spending is often known as ‘expenses’. Sometimes, people think this means that spending can be reclaimed from the local council, or from us, the Electoral Commission. This is not the case. You are not entitled to recover any spending from public funds.

You can find out more information in our guidance about candidate spending.

In order to stand as a candidate you must ensure that you meet the necessary qualifications and be sure that you are not disqualified. This section sets out the qualifications and disqualifications for standing for election.

For elections taking place on or after 2 May 2024, the Elections Act 2022 has updated the grounds on which you may be disqualified. More information can be found in our guidance on disqualifications.

For elections taking place on or after 7 May 2024, the Elections Act 2022 removes the general right of European Union citizens stand at parish council elections. This will mean that in order stand as a candidate at a parish council election, an EU citizen will be required to be a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights.

To be able to stand as a candidate at a parish council election you must:

• be at least 18 years old1  
• For polls up to and including 2 May 2024 - be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of any member state of the European Union,2
• For polls on or after 7 May 2024 - be a British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights3
• meet at least one of the following four qualifications:
  • You are, and will continue to be, registered as a local government elector for the parish in which you wish to stand from the day of your nomination onwards.4 More information is set out in our guidance ‘Being a registered local government elector’.
  • You have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.5 More information is set out in our guidance ‘Occupying as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area’.
  • Your main or only place of work during the 12 months prior to the day of your nomination and the day of election has been in the parish area.6 More information is set out in our guidance ‘Your main or only place of work is in the local authority area'.
  • You have lived in the parish area or within three miles of it during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and the day of election.7 More information is set out in our guidance ‘Living in the parish area (or within three miles of it)’.

When completing your home address form and consent to nomination form you will be asked to indicate which qualifications you meet. You should indicate on the forms all those qualifications that apply to you.
 

Meaning of an eligible commonwealth citizen

An eligible Commonwealth citizen is a Commonwealth citizen who either:

• does not need leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, or
• has indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom
   

Meaning of qualifying EU citizens 

A person is a qualifying EU citizen if they are a citizen of a country with which the UK has a bilateral Voting and Candidacy Rights (VCR) treaty and are resident in the UK with any form of leave to remain, or do not require such leave.  

Currently the UK holds bilateral treaties with the following countries: 

Meaning of EU citizens with retained rights 

A person is an EU citizen with retained rights if they are a citizen of a country with which the UK does not have a bilateral Voting and Candidacy Rights (VCR) treaty but they have been legally resident in the UK since before the UK left the EU on 31/12/2020 (the Implementation Period Completion Date – IPCD) 
The member states of the European Union which do not currently have a bilateral VCR treaty with the UK and are not Commonwealth countries are: 

To be able to use this qualification, your name must appear on the register of local government electors for the parish area you wish to stand in at the time of your nomination and throughout your term of office should you be elected.1

Unlike the other qualifications that must only be satisfied on the day of your nomination and on polling day, this is an on-going qualification.  We therefore recommend that if you meet any of the other qualifications as well, you also indicate this on your home address form and consent to nomination, which are two of the required nomination papers.

To be able to use this qualification, you must have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the parish area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination and before polling day.1

You must occupy 'land or other premises' to meet this qualification. The inclusion of the words 'other premises' can be taken as something other than land (i.e. some form of structure). Because 'land' and 'other premises' are alternatives it is, in theory, possible for a person to meet this qualification by occupying land only. There are some structures that might, arguably, fall outside the term 'premises' (e.g. a tent, caravan, house boat or mobile home). However, a person occupying such a structure need only establish occupancy of the land on which, for example their tent, is located.

If the land or premises crosses the parish boundary, the land/premises is 'in that area' with respect to both parishes.

You must also occupy the land or other premises as an 'owner' or 'tenant'. Ownership may be established by showing title to the land or premises in question. Tenancy is established by showing a lease over the land. In a number of circumstances, a lease will survive even though it has expired and the parties have failed to sign a new lease, and the tenancy survives through tacit agreement between the parties. Therefore, there may be circumstances in which a person's tenancy of land or premises might need to be established by evidence other than a current lease.

You must also have 'occupied' the land or premises. Therefore, in addition to establishing legal ownership or legal tenancy, you must establish that you have actually occupied the land or premises. This is a question of fact in each case. The interpretation of the term 'occupy' in other legal contexts suggests that it is not necessary for a person to be personally resident on the land or premises (which would in any event be covered by the qualification of 'lived in the parish area’). 

However, it does require something to be actually done on the land or premises – an empty unlocked house cannot be described as 'occupied', for example. It also requires a sufficient degree of control to exclude or prevent strangers from interfering with the land or premises. If you have sub-let all of your land or premises to another person, this will point against you having 'occupied' it yourself.

Finally, you must have occupied the land or premises 'during the whole of the twelve months preceding' the day on which you are nominated and polling day. Whether an absence will prevent you from claiming that you have occupied the land or premises for the preceding year should be worked out by taking into account all other factors: for instance, whether you have allowed others to occupy the land or premises in your absence, and the reason for your absence.
 

To be able to use this qualification, your main or only place of work must have been in the parish area during the 12 months prior to your nomination and prior to polling day itself.1   

You do not have to be in paid employment to qualify, as long as you satisfy the requirement of your main or only place of work being in the parish area. Councillors whose main or only job is being a councillor would be able to use this qualification, provided that their place of work is within the parish.

To be able to use this qualification, you are not required to have lived at the same address for the whole of the 12 months before the day on which you are nominated, but you must have lived in the same parish area, or within three miles of it, during the whole of those 12 months.1

If in the last 12 months you have lived at more than one address in the parish (or within three miles of it) you should declare on the home address form all of the addresses at which you have lived during that period.

This qualification also requires you to live in the parish area, or within three miles of it, from the date of nomination to polling day.
 

Apart from meeting the qualifications for standing for election, you must also not be disqualified.

The full range of disqualifications is complex and if you are in any doubt about whether you are disqualified, you must do everything you can to check that you are not disqualified before submitting your nomination papers.

For polls on or after 2 May 2024 the Elections Act 2022 introduced a disqualification conviction of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or campaigner or holder of a relevant elective office.1   

You must be sure that you are not disqualified as you will be asked to sign one of the required nomination papers to confirm that you are not disqualified.
 
It is a criminal offence to make a false statement on your nomination papers as to your qualification for being elected, so if you are in any doubt you should contact your employer, consult the legislation or, if necessary, take your own independent legal advice.

The Returning Officer will not be able to confirm whether or not you are disqualified.

There are certain people who are disqualified from being elected to a parish council. You cannot be a candidate if at the time of your nomination and on polling day:

• You are employed by the parish council or hold a paid office under the parish council (including joint boards or committees).2 More information is set out in our guidance Working for a parish council 
• You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order.3 More information is set out in our guidance Bankruptcy restrictions or interim order section.
• You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day4 and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or applications in respect of the conviction has passed. A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the conviction is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.5
• You have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (which covers corrupt or illegal electoral practices).  The disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date the person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years.  The disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years6 unless at any time within that period a court determines that the conviction should not be upheld, in which case the disqualification ends at that time.7
• You are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed.8 A disqualification set under s.81A of the Local Government Act 1972 will only apply to a person who is subject to any relevant notification requirements or relevant order made on or after 28 June 2022. A person who is in the process of making an appeal or application in relation to the disqualification is not disqualified at any time before the end of the day on which the appeal or application is disposed of, abandoned or fails by reason of non-prosecution.9
• For polls on or after 2 May 2024 you have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or campaigner or holder of a relevant elective office.10 The effect of a disqualification order is that the person will be disqualified from standing for, being elected to, and holding any relevant elective office for five years.    

A person may also be disqualified from being or becoming a member of certain authorities11 following a conviction under the Localism Act 2011.12
 

You are disqualified from standing as a candidate at elections to a particular parish if you are a paid officer or employee of that parish.1 This would be the case where your appointment:

• has been made
• could be made
• has been confirmed by the local authority itself
• has been confirmed by any committee or sub-committee of the local authority
• has been confirmed by any joint committee or National Park authority where the local authority is represented by a person holding such an office or employment

However, the disqualification on the basis of being a paid officer or employee does not apply to the office of chairman, vice-chairman or deputy chairman of the parish.
  
Most parishes will not have committees or sub-committees, but some may. Paid officers of a parish employed under the direction of such committees or sub-committees are disqualified from standing to that parish. In addition, where such a committee or sub-committee has a member, or members, appointed on the nomination of another local authority, the disqualification will also apply to being elected to the other local authority.

If you are a paid officer of a local authority employed under the direction of a joint board, joint or combined authority, joint waste authority, economic prosperity board or joint committee, you will be disqualified from being elected as a member of all of the authorities that are represented on that body.

Joint boards, committees etc. can include various organisations, such as fire services and education authorities. Therefore, as a general rule, if you work in the local public sector, you should seek advice from your employer’s HR department to help you establish whether the disqualification would apply to you. Sometimes employment relationships can be complex and if this is the case for you, we recommend that you seek your own legal advice.
  
This disqualification applies on both the date of your nomination and on polling day. If you were employed by the parish council, you must have resigned and served any notice period before the date of your nomination to avoid having a contract of employment with the parish council at that time.

Bankruptcy in itself is not a disqualification. If you have been adjudged bankrupt by a court in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you are not disqualified on that basis. However, you are disqualified if you are currently subject to any of the following:

• an interim bankruptcy restrictions order
• a bankruptcy restrictions order
• an interim debt relief restrictions order
• debt relief restrictions order

made by a court in England or Wales.1 If the order was made in Northern Ireland, you should take your own legal advice since the law is complex.
 

Yes, you can stand for election in different parish councils, provided you are qualified to stand in all those parish councils.

Some parishes will be sub-divided into wards. You can check with the Returning Officer if the parish you intend to stand in is warded. While you may submit nomination papers for more than one ward, you cannot stand for election in more than one ward within the same parish after the deadline for withdrawals.1

If the Returning Officer accepts your nomination papers and you are validly nominated in more than one ward within the same parish, you must withdraw from all wards but one by 4pm on the 19th working day before the poll. If you do not, then you will be deemed to have withdrawn from all of the wards.2
 

Yes, provided you meet the qualifications for both, you can stand for election at a parish council election at the same time as standing for election at a principal council election, such as an election to the district or county.

More details can be found in our guidance for standing as a candidate at local government elections in England.  

You can appoint agents to observe the following electoral processes, which you are also entitled to observe:

• the opening of postal votes
• the poll
• the count
   

The following section provides guidance on candidate spending at parish elections in England.

This guidance covers:

• how much you can spend in the lead up to the election
• which activities count as candidate spending
• what records you must keep
• how to account for different types of spending

Election agents are not required at parish council elections. The candidate has the main responsibility for complying with these laws, even if they appoint an agent to help with expenses. 

We call the time when the spending laws apply the ‘regulated period’.

The regulated period

The regulated period for the 2024 parish council elections in England begins on the day after the date you officially become a candidate and ends on polling day, 2 May 2024.1

When does a person officially become a candidate?

The earliest date you can officially become a candidate is the last date for publication of the notice of election, which will be Tuesday 26 March 2024.2

You will become a candidate on this date if you or others have already announced your intention to stand.3  For example, your party may have issued a press release when you were selected, or you might have mentioned your intention at a residents’ meeting.

If your intention to stand has not been announced by 26 March 2024, you will officially become a candidate on the earlier of:

• the date your intention to stand is announced
• the date when you submit your nomination papers4

This must be prior to the close of nominations, which is 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024.5

The spending limit for the regulated period is £960, plus 8p per local government elector in the parish council area registered to vote on the last day for publication of the notice of election in the parish council area which you are standing for.1

Your local electoral registration officer will be able to give you the number of registered electors in the parish council area in which you are standing.

Spending limits for ‘joint candidates’

You are a joint candidate if you stand in the same parish council area and one of the following conditions applies:

• you have the same election agent 
• you use the same campaign rooms
• you publish joint material2

However, using the same campaign rooms by accident or coincidence is not in itself enough to make candidates joint candidates.3

Joint candidates have lower spending limits, as they are sharing some of the costs. You should calculate your spending limit as explained above, and then reduce it by:

If you are not sure if you are a joint candidate, please contact us.

You should ensure that a system is in place to keep records of all your candidate spending so that you can comply with your reporting responsibilities after the election. 

What you need to record

For each item of spending, you must record the following information to include in your spending return after the election:

• what the spending was for – for example, leaflets or advertising
• the name and address of the supplier
• the amount or value
• the date that you spent the money

All costs must include VAT, even if you can recover VAT payments. 

You must keep invoices or receipts for any payments of £10 or over as you will need to submit these with your return.1

You may want to also keep copies of each example of campaign material (such as letters or leaflets) used in case there is a need to refer back to it.

You must also record details of spending where:

• you make use of items that have been provided to you 
• you authorise spending to be incurred by someone else

For information on the details required in the spending return, please see Completing your return.

Gwariant ymgeisydd yw gwariant ar weithgareddau i hyrwyddo eich ymgeisyddiaeth, neu i feirniadu ymgeiswyr eraill, yn ystod y cyfnod 1  a reoleiddir.

Er mwyn iddo fod yn wariant ymgeisydd, rhaid iddo:

•    fod yn weithgarwch ar restr o fathau o dreuliau etholiad
•    hyrwyddo'r ymgeisydd 2

Pan fyddwch wedi penderfynu bod rhywbeth yn wariant ymgeisydd, bydd angen i chi benderfynu sut y dylid rhoi gwybod amdano. Gall fod yn:

•    wariant arferol y mae'r ymgeisydd neu'r asiant yn mynd iddo 
•    gwariant tybiannol, lle caiff rhywbeth ei ddarparu i chi a'ch bod yn ei ddefnyddio yn eich ymgyrch
•    ymgyrchu lleol, lle bydd rhywun heblaw'r ymgeisydd neu'r asiant yn mynd i wariant

Mae'r tudalennau canlynol yn cynnwys manylion y gweithgareddau sy'n cyfrif fel gwariant ymgeisydd a'r ffyrdd gwahanol yr eir i'r gwariant.
 

Agent costs

This includes any remuneration, including allowances, paid to the agent.  

Staff who are employed by a political party

It includes the cost of any staff member of a political party who 

• provides services to the candidate that are for the purposes of the candidate’s election during the regulated period, or 
• provides services to the candidate that are for the purposes of the candidate’s election prior to that time which are then used during the regulated period

Staff monitoring social media and other press activities

It includes the cost of staff engaged in the management and monitoring of social media channels or platforms and the obtaining of data to allow targeted campaigning. This includes hiring staff to analyse and sort the data and the cost of staff to monitor and post or respond to any kind of social media or other account.

It includes the cost of staff engaged in the management of press activities of any kind, including staff who are liaising with, managing or monitoring any kind of media activity by any means in connection with the candidate’s election.

Any other person whose services are engaged

It includes the cost of any other person whose services are engaged in connection with the candidate’s election. 

Volunteer time

It does not include the cost for services of an agent or any other person who is a volunteer.

You also do not have include the costs of people’s travel, food and accommodation costs while they campaign on your behalf, if they meet the costs themselves. 

However, any expenses you meet for them, or reimburse them for, such as transport or accommodation, do count as your spending.

Sometimes you may not be sure if someone working for your campaign is a volunteer or if you should count their time towards your spending limit. For example, they may offer similar services professionally to the ones they are performing for you. 

For example, they will be a volunteer if:

• their employer is not paying them for the time they spend on your campaign
• they are using their annual leave
• where they are self-employed, you won’t benefit from any professional insurances they hold

If they use specialist equipment or materials, it is likely this will be notional spending.

Personal expenses include the reasonable travel and living expenses (such as hotel costs) of the candidate.1  Personal expenses do not count towards the spending limit but you must report them on your spending return.2

Personal expenses may include car hire for the candidate if the candidate does not already own a car, or if their car is not suitable for campaigning. For example, if you are standing in a rural electoral area, it may be reasonable to hire a four-wheel drive vehicle to access remote areas.

The item must be transferred or provided to the candidate for it to count as notional spending.1

Commercial discounts are those available to other similar customers, such as discounts for bulk orders or seasonal reductions. Items, goods and services purchased with commercial discounts will not be treated as notional spending.

Non-commercial discounts are special discounts that you are given by suppliers. This includes any special rate which is not available on the open market. These are different to commercial discounts available to all customers, such as discounts for bulk orders or seasonal reductions.

Os caiff rhodd mewn da ei throsglwyddo neu ei darparu i'r ymgeisydd, dim ond os bydd yr ymgeisydd neu rywun sy'n gweithredu ar ei ran 1  yn ei defnyddio yn ei ymgyrch y bydd yn cyfrif fel gwariant tybiannol.

Os bydd gweithgaredd ymgyrchu i gefnogi'r ymgeisydd yn cael ei gyflawni gan rywun arall, ni fydd yn ddigon bod yr ymgeisydd wedi cael budd o'r gweithgaredd hwnnw, wedi cael gwybod amdano, na hyd yn oed wedi diolch i'r person a'i cyflawnodd.

Yr unig adeg y gall person wneud defnydd o rywbeth ar ran yr ymgeisydd yw os bydd y defnydd hwnnw wedi cael ei gyfarwyddo, ei awdurdodi neu ei annog gan yr ymgeisydd neu ei asiant. 2

Ystyr ‘defnyddio'r’ rhodd mewn da yw bod rhyw fath o ymwneud cadarnhaol ar ran yr ymgeisydd (neu rywun ar ei ran) i ddefnyddio'r nwyddau neu'r gwasanaethau a ddarperir.

Gall ‘defnyddio’ gynnwys:

• cyfrannu'n bersonol - er enghraifft, bydd yr ymgeisydd yn darparu cynnwys ar gyfer taflenni a gaiff eu cynhyrchu a'u dosbarthu gan y blaid, felly yn defnyddio'r gwasanaeth a ddarperir gan y blaid
• trefnu bod rhywun arall yn cyfrannu ar eich rhan – er enghraifft gofyn i wirfoddolwyr lleol y blaid helpu i ddosbarthu taflenni a ddarperir gan eu plaid
   

Notional spending begins with being provided with something of value. 

The guiding principle

The guiding principle is that, in all cases, you should make an honest and reasonable assessment of the value of the goods or services you are receiving.

If the exact or similar options of the item or services are available on the market, you should use the rates charged by other providers to guide you in making a valuation. For example, if the donor is a commercial provider, you should use the rates they charge other similar customers.

If there are no exact or similar options of the goods or services available on the market, you should base your assessment on the commercial value of a reasonable equivalent. If you are still not sure, please contact us for advice.

Valuing seconded staff

If an employer seconds a member of staff to your campaign, you must record their gross salary and any additional allowances as notional spending.

You do not need to include the employer’s national insurance or pension contributions. You will need to include the value of any expenses, such as travel or food, that you or the employer refunds.

There are five tests that must all be met in order for an item to count as notional spending

1. it is transferred to you or provided for your use or benefit
2. it is transferred or provided for free or at a non-commercial discount of more than 10%1
3. the difference in value between the commercial value of what is provided and what you pay is over £502
4. you make use of it in your campaign (or someone does on your behalf)3
5. it would have been election expenses if you had incurred the spending.4  See What activities count as candidate spending? for information about the categories of candidate spending

Weithiau, efallai y bydd angen i chi rannu eich costau rhwng gweithgareddau sy'n cyfrif fel gwariant ymgeisydd a'r rhai nad ydynt yn cyfrif fel gwariant ymgeisydd.

Er enghraifft, rhwng:

• eitemau a ddefnyddiwyd cyn ac yn ystod y cyfnod a reoleiddir
• eich gwariant ar yr ymgyrch a gweithgareddau eraill fel swyddfa rydych yn ei rhannu â'ch plaid leol 

Ym mhob achos, dylech wneud asesiad gonest, yn seiliedig ar y ffeithiau, o gyfran y gwariant y gellir ei phriodoli'n deg i'ch gwariant fel ymgeisydd.

Er enghraifft, os ydych yn rhannu swyddfa plaid, efallai mai dim ond dadansoddiad o gostau galwadau dros werth penodol y gall eich bil ffôn ei ddarparu.

Yn yr achosion hyn, dylech ystyried y ffordd orau o wneud asesiad gonest ar sail y wybodaeth sydd gennych. Er enghraifft, gallech gymharu'r bil ag un nad yw'n cwmpasu cyfnod a reoleiddir.  

Chi sy'n gyfrifol am roi gwybodaeth lawn a chywir am eich gwariant ymgeisydd. Dylech sicrhau eich bod yn deall y rheolau a bod pob gwariant wedi'i awdurdodi a'i gofnodi ac y rhoddir gwybod amdano'n gywir.

Ar ôl yr etholiad, bydd yn rhaid i chi lofnodi datganiad i ddatgan ei bod yn gyflawn ac yn gywir hyd eithaf eich gwybodaeth a'ch cred. 1

Mae'n drosedd gwneud datganiad anwir a hynny'n fwriadol. 2

Os ydych yn dal yn ansicr, ffoniwch neu e-bostiwch ni i gael cyngor.
 

Gwariant gan y blaid sy'n hyrwyddo'r ymgeisydd

Gwariant a ddylai gael ei briodoli'n rhannol i'r blaid ac i'r ymgeisydd

Gwariant nad yw'n hyrwyddo'r ymgeisydd

Ceir canllawiau ar asesu sut i roi gwybod am wariant yn yr adran nesaf.

You must meet deadlines for:

• receiving and paying invoices
• sending a spending and donations return to the local returning officer

You must also submit a declaration that the return is complete and accurate.1

You must still submit a return and declarations even if you haven’t spent any money.2  This is called a ‘nil return’.

You can find these deadlines, and more information on reporting, in Completing your return.

Cewch ddechrau ymgyrchu unrhyw bryd. Nid oes rhaid i chi aros am enwebiad dilys er mwyn datgan eich bod am sefyll etholiad, gofyn i bobl eich cefnogi na chyhoeddi deunydd ymgyrchu. 

Mae terfynau gwariant etholiad yn gymwys o'r diwrnod ar ôl i berson ddod yn ymgeisydd yn swyddogol. 

Ceir rhagor o wybodaeth am wariant etholiad yn ein canllawiau ar wariant a rhoddion.
 

• Encourage people who are not on the electoral register to apply for registration. The deadline for registering to vote in time for an election is 12 working days before the poll.1 Individuals can register online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. 
• Remind voters who wish to vote in person that they will be required to produce an accepted form of photographic ID to prove their identity before they will be issued with a ballot paper. Where an individual does not have or does not wish to use an accepted form of photographic ID, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. For more information on the accepted forms of photographic ID and Voter Authority Certificates see our guidance for polling day
• Help voters with information about postal and proxy voting and encourage voters to apply online at https://www.gov.uk/vote-uk-election. The deadline for applying for a postal vote for the elections is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.2 The deadline for applying for a proxy vote for the elections is 5pm, 6 working days before the poll,3 although in some circumstances electors may apply for an emergency proxy up to 5pm on polling day.4 An elector can apply for an emergency proxy if, after 5pm, 6 working days before the poll they have had a medical emergency or have been called away on business,  or the photographic ID that they intended to use in the polling station becomes unavailable and they do not have alternative form of accepted photographic ID.
• Find more information about who can register to vote and postal and proxy voting on our website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter
   

• Make sure any application forms you develop include all the required information, otherwise the applications will be rejected. In particular, you must make sure that the signature and date of birth fields on postal and proxy application forms are in the correct format and there is a field for applicants to include their National Insurance number. You should use our absent voting application forms as a guide and you should liaise with the ERO who may be able to provide you with forms you can use. To help ensure that voters application are received and processed as quickly as possible, you can also let them know that they can apply for an absent vote online at https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.
• Inform voters to return their completed application forms to the ERO as soon as possible. Campaigners should not collect completed paper applications from voters and should not ask voters to send completed applications to campaigners’ addresses.
• Never handle or take any completed ballot paper or postal ballot packs from voters.
• Make sure your supporters follow the Code of conduct for campaigners in Great Britain – this will help them to avoid situations where their honesty or integrity could be questioned.
• Make sure your supporters are courteous when dealing with other candidates and their supporters.
• Be aware of the deadlines for appointing agents to attend postal vote opening sessions, polling stations and the count. Deadlines are set out in our guidance for postal voting, polling day and the verification and count.
• Check our guidance on how postal vote openings, the voting process and the count  will work so that you know what you can expect to happen.
• Check that your systems for recording spending are working. For more information on election spending see our guidance on candidate spending.
   

• Knowingly make a false statement about the personal character of another candidate.1
• Pay canvassers.2 Canvassing means trying to persuade an elector to vote for or against a particular candidate or party.

More information on election offences and how to report these can be found in our guidance on offences.

If you have made a mistake and have acted in contravention of the rules, you can apply for relief from the consequences of having made a mistake. See our guidance on what to do if you have made a mistake for more information.

For polls on or after 2 May 2024

The Elections Act 2022 introduced legislation which restricts the handling of postal voting documents by campaigners. The legislation will be in force for polls held on or after 2 May 2024.
 
You will need to make sure your supporters are aware that it is an offence to handle completed ballot papers or postal ballot packs for voters who are not close family or someone they care for and to follow the Code of conduct for campaigners in Great Britain. This will help them to avoid situations where their honesty or integrity could be questioned.

Once you officially become a candidate, you are entitled to receive a free copy of the electoral register.1 You are also entitled to the lists of people voting by post or proxy (‘the lists of absent voters’) for the parish area or, if your parish is warded, for the ward that you are contesting.

Registered political parties are entitled to receive a copy of the electoral register at any time.

There are two registers

Using information received from the public, registration officers keep two registers –

The electoral register

The electoral register lists the names and addresses of everyone who is registered to vote in public elections. The register is used for electoral purposes, such as making sure only eligible people can vote. It is also used for other limited purposes specified in law, such as detecting crime (e.g. fraud), calling people for jury service, checking credit applications.

The open register (also known as the edited register).

The open register is an extract of the electoral register, but is not used for elections. It can be bought by any person, company or organisation. For example, it is used by businesses and charities to confirm name and address details. Electors can request not to have their name and address included in the open register. 
 

The electoral register and lists of absent voters contain people’s personal data and so their use is very carefully controlled.

You can use them to:

• complete your nomination form
• help you campaign
• check that donations are permissible

You must not release to any person any details that appear only in the electoral register and not on the open register which is available for general sale. You must not use the electoral register and lists of absent voters for any other purpose not listed above.1

If you have supplied a copy of the electoral register or lists of absent voters to campaign workers, they must also comply with the requirements above.
 
You must ensure that you keep both the electoral register and the lists of absent voters secure.2 Once you no longer need the register and lists of absents voters for any electoral purposes, you should securely destroy any copies supplied to you as a candidate in accordance with Information Commissioner’s guidelines.

Candidates are one of the key public faces of the election, and your conduct will be scrutinised in detail by your opponents, the media and voters.

Voters should be able to trust that you will comply with the law and maintain the integrity of the election process.

You should also make sure that your supporters fully understand the law and know what they need to do to ensure that voters can participate freely in this election.

The police can only investigate allegations of electoral fraud where there is evidence to show that an offence has taken place, so you should always be able to substantiate any claims or allegations when you refer them to the police.

You should also consider the impact on public trust and confidence of making false or unsubstantiated allegations about the conduct of other campaigners.

Neither the Returning Officer nor the Commission regulate these offences. For details of how to report any allegations see our guidance on Reporting allegations of electoral fraud. 
 

The following table shows a number of electoral and non-electoral offences of which you should be aware. You should seek your own legal advice where necessary.

For polls on or after 2 May 2024

The Elections Act 2022 introduced legislation which made changes to some electoral offences. The table below highlights the offences that will change when the legislation is in force for polls held on or after 2 May 2024.

The following sections provide guidance on standing as a candidate at a parish council election in England.

The guidance covers:

• The nomination process, including what forms you need to complete
• When and how you need to submit your nomination papers
• What happens after you submit your nomination papers

There are specific rules that candidates need to follow, depending on whether they are standing as a political party candidate or standing as an independent candidate.  These differences will be clearly highlighted throughout the guidance.

If you are aware of a by-election that will be scheduled to take place on or after 7 May, you will need to ensure any nomination paper you use reflects changes to the qualification criteria regarding nationality which take effect for polls on or after this date. Our versions of the nomination packs are currently being updated, and will be available next week.

Guidance on standing for other elections can be found on our website.  
 

To become nominated as a candidate at a parish council election in England, you need to submit a completed set of nomination papers to the place fixed by the RO by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.1   

This deadline is set out in law and cannot be changed for any reason.

The start date from which you will be able to submit nomination papers, as well as the times and place for delivery, will be set out in the notice of election published by the local RO.2
  
There are three nomination papers that you must submit to make your nomination valid:3

• the nomination form
• a home address form
• your consent to nomination

The RO can hold your nomination paper invalid if the particulars of your nomination are not as required by law.  The RO can also reject your nomination if they conclude that it is clearly a sham, for example, if an obviously fictitious name is provided.

You can obtain nomination papers from the local elections office. Contact details can be obtained from our website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter alternatively, the Commission has produced a set of nomination papers that you could use.

There are different nomination papers for elections held on 2 May 2024 and for those held on or after 7 May 2024. Please make sure you use the correct version, depending on when the poll will be held. Using the wrong nominations pack may cause your nomination to be rejected.

If you or someone you trust are unable to complete the nomination form, the RO can help by preparing the form for your signature.4
 
The RO may also be able to offer informal checks of your completed nomination papers before you submit them. You should find out from the Returning Officer whether they plan to offer informal checks.

Note that any information you provide on your nomination papers must be true to the best of your knowledge. It is an offence to provide a false statement on your nomination papers. Providing a false statement could invalidate your election, and is also punishable by an unlimited fine and/or imprisonment.5

Your name and description (if you choose to use one) should be written on the nomination form before you ask subscribers to sign the form.

The nomination form must be completed in English.

There are different nomination papers for elections held on 2 May 2024 and for those held on or after 7 May 2024. Please make sure you use the correct version, depending on when the poll will be held. Using the wrong nominations pack may cause your nomination to be rejected.

The form must contain:

Your full name1

• This means your surname and other names in full.
• Using initials only could lead to your nomination paper being rejected
• Do not use prefixes such as Mr, Mrs, Dr or Cllr as part of your name. 
• The same applies to suffixes. However, if you have a title, you can use this as your full name. For example, if your actual name is Joseph Smith but your hereditary title is Joseph Avon, you can use the name Joseph Avon as your full name.

Signatures of two registered electors2

Also known (known as proposer and seconder) from the parish area, or from the parish ward if the parish is warded. The proposer and seconder must be on the local government electoral register that is in force 25 working days before the poll. For more information see our guidance on subscribers.

Description

You can also choose to use a description on your nomination paper. The type of description you can use depends on whether you are an independent candidate or a candidate standing on behalf of a registered political party.

You do not have to use a description. If you choose not to use a description, you can leave the description field of the nomination form blank. 

If you commonly use a different name from your actual name, you can ask for your commonly used name(s) to be used instead of your actual name.1   

You can request to use a commonly used forename, surname or both.

For example, you may be known by your abbreviated name ‘Andy’, rather than your full first name ‘Andrew’. In that case, you can write ‘Andy’ into the commonly used forename box on the nomination paper if you would rather that name appear on the ballot paper.

For polls before 2 May 2024

You cannot use your first name as a commonly used name so that only your first name and surname appear on a ballot paper, thus excluding your middle name.

The legislation makes it clear that a commonly used name is one which is different from any other forename or surname.2 This means that a forename in its original format cannot be used as a commonly used name.

If you wish to use a commonly used forename and/or surname then these must be different from your full name as it appears on the nomination form. For example, in the case of Andrew John Smith, he could not use Andrew Smith as his commonly used name, although he would be able to use Andy Smith (if Andy was the name by which he is commonly known).

If you have a hyphenated surname you may choose to use one part of your surname if this is how you are commonly known. For example, in the case of Andrew Smith-Roberts, he could use Andrew Roberts, or Andrew Smith (if either was the name by which he is commonly known).

You may also use initials as part of your commonly used name if you are commonly known by them.

For polls on or after 2 May 2024

The Elections Act 2022 introduced legislation which permits greater flexibility in the names a candidate can put on their nomination paper (and therefore, the ballot paper). This new legislation will be in force for the scheduled polls in May 2024.

If you:

• commonly use a surname or forename that is different from any other surname or forename you have
• use one or more forenames or surname in a different way from the way they are stated on your nomination form

you may state your commonly used name or names on your nomination form in addition to your full names that you have provided.3
  
Any commonly used name(s) would then appear on:

• the statement of persons nominated
• the notice of poll, and
• the ballot papers

The RO will disallow commonly used names that are likely to mislead or confuse electors, or are obscene or offensive.4 If the name(s) are not permissible, the RO will write to you stating the reason for rejection. In those cases, your actual name will be used instead.

If either the commonly used forename or surname box on the nomination paper is left blank, then your actual forename or surname, depending on which commonly used name box has been left blank, will be used.

It is an offence to give a false statement on your nomination form. Therefore if you choose to provide a commonly used name you must ensure that it is a forename or surname which you commonly use.

Each nomination form needs to be signed (subscribed) by two electors on the local government electoral register in the parish or, if the parish is warded, in the parish ward.

The electors must be of voting age and be on the register that is in force on the last day for publication of notice of election.1

Each elector may not subscribe more nomination forms than there are vacancies.2

For example, if there are two vacancies in a parish ward, an elector may subscribe up to two candidates' nomination forms in that ward; if three candidates submit nomination forms subscribed by the same person, the two that were submitted first will be accepted, but the third will be invalid.

You should therefore always enquire, before asking a subscriber to sign your form, if they have already signed someone else's.

If a nomination form contains more than two subscribers’ signatures, only the first two will be accepted.3 If either of the subscribers is invalid, the Returning Officer must hold the nomination form invalid, regardless of whether the form contains more than two.4

There is nothing to prevent you from subscribing your own nomination providing that you are registered in the parish, or if the parish is warded, in the parish ward.

Nomination forms should not be altered once they are subscribed. All of your details should be completed before you invite anyone to subscribe your nomination. Once the RO has formally accepted a nomination form, signatures cannot be withdrawn.

Anonymously registered electors

There may be some electors on the register who have registered anonymously because of risks to their safety. Anonymously registered electors may not subscribe nomination forms.

Anonymous electors are shown on the register with just their poll number and the letter 'N' (rather than with their name and address).

The elector number

The elector numbers of the proposer and seconder, as they appear on the electoral register must be entered on the nomination form.5 The elector number includes the distinctive numbers or letters of the polling district can usually be found at the front of the register.

Both the RO and ERO will be able to advise you how the register is laid out.

You will be entitled to a free copy of the electoral register for the parish area or parish ward you are contesting, as appropriate.6

You should use it to ensure that your nomination form is properly subscribed.

In line with data protection legislation and the electoral provision under which you have obtained the register, you must ensure that you keep the electoral register secure and, once you have finished with it, ensure that it is securely destroyed.

Data protection considerations

When collecting subscriber information, you should point out what the information will be used for, how personal data will be processed and kept secure. The lawful basis to collect the information in this form is that it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest and exercise of official authority as set out in Representation of the People Act 1983 and associated regulations.

You should also explain that the information will be shared with the RO. For further information on data protection and processing you should refer to the RO’s privacy notice on their website.

Data protection legislation applies to the processing of all personal data. Please contact the Information Commissioner's Office for further information about how the current data protection legislation affects you.

You must formally consent to your nomination in writing.1

The content of the consent to nomination form is fixed by law and the entire form must be returned in order for your nomination to be valid.

There are different nomination papers for elections held on 2 May 2024 and for those held on or after 7 May 2024. Please make sure you use the correct version, depending on when the poll will be held. Using the wrong nominations pack may cause your nomination to be rejected.

On the form you will be asked to state that you are qualified and not disqualified from standing.
 
You must meet at least one of the qualifications to stand for election. On the consent to nomination form you should state as many of the qualifications as apply.

You must also state your date of birth.

You are not allowed to sign the consent form earlier than one calendar month before the deadline for submitting your nomination papers.2

Your signature must be witnessed; and the witness must attest the form.3

The witness’s full name and home address in full must be provided on the home address form.

There are no restrictions on who can be a witness to the consent to nomination.4

The home address form must state:1

• your full name
• your home address in full
• your qualifying address, or, where you have declared on your consent to nomination  that you meet more than one qualification, your qualifying addresses
• which of the qualifications your qualifying address or addresses relate to
• the full name and the home address in full of the witness to your consent to nomination form

Your home address:

• must be completed in full
• must not contain abbreviations
• must be your current home address 
• must not be a business address (unless you run a business from your home)

The qualifying address:

Where you have selected one of the following options on the consent to nomination, you must state

• option (a) on the consent to nomination form - the address in full where you are registered as a local government elector
• option (b) on the consent to nomination - a description and the address of that land or premises which you have occupied as owner or tenant
• option (c) on the consent to nomination -  the address of your place of work
• option (d) on the consent to nomination, the address or addresses in full of where  you have resided

Choosing not to publish your home address

You may choose for your home address not to be published on the statement of persons nominated or the ballot paper.

In this case the home address form must contain, as well as your full name and home address:

• a statement, signed by you, which states that you require your home address not to be made public
• the name of the relevant area in which your home address is situated (if your home address is in the UK
• if you live outside the UK, the name of the country in which your home address is situated

What is the relevant area?

The relevant area means:

• For home addresses in England:
  -    if the address is within a district for which there is a district council, that district;
  -    if the address is within a county in which there are no districts with councils, that county;
  -    if the address is within a London borough, that London borough;
  -    if the address is within the City of London (including the Inner and Middle Temples, the City of London; and
  -    if the address is within the Isles of Scilly, the Isles of Scilly
• For home addresses in Wales:
  -    if the address is within a county, that county;
  -    if the address is within a county borough, that county borough 
• For home addresses in Scotland:
  -    the local government area in which the address is situated
• For home addresses in Northern Ireland:
  -    the local government district in which the address is situated

What is the relevant area?

The relevant area means:

• For home addresses in England:
  -    if the address is within a district for which there is a district council, that district;
  -    if the address is within a county in which there are no districts with councils, that county;
  -    if the address is within a London borough, that London borough;
  -    if the address is within the City of London (including the Inner and Middle Temples), the City of London; and
  -    if the address is within the Isles of Scilly, the Isles of Scilly
• For home addresses in Wales:
  -    if the address is within a county, that county;
  -    if the address is within a county borough, that county borough
• For home addresses in Scotland:
  -    the local government area in which the address is situated
• For home addresses in Northern Ireland:
  -    the local government district in which the address is situated

This section provides specific information for candidates standing on behalf of a political party on the additional information required to be submitted as part of their nomination papers.

To stand on behalf of a registered political party, the party must be registered on the Commission’s register of political parties at https://search.electoralcommission.org.uk and be listed as allowed to field candidates in England. You will also need to submit the a certificate of authorisation to be able to stand on behalf of that party. If you also wish to use an emblem of the party, you will also need to submit an emblem request form as part of your nomination. 
 

Political parties authorise candidates to stand for them by issuing a certificate of authorisation. This must state that the candidate may use one of the following:1

• the exact party name as registered with the Commission
• one of the party’s registered descriptions
• your choice of either the registered party name or one of the registered descriptions.

Particular care should be taken by the Nominating Officer (or someone authorised to act on their behalf) when completing the certificate of authorisation. If the certificate explicitly authorises a particular party name/description and this does not match the name/description on the nomination paper, the whole nomination will be invalid.2

The certificate of authorisation must be signed by the registered Nominating Officer of the political party or by someone authorised by the Nominating Officer to act on their behalf3 and must be received to the RO by the nominations deadline, 4pm 19 working days before the poll.4

If you are standing on behalf of two or more parties, you will need a certificate of authorisation from the Nominating Officer of each of the registered parties (or people authorised to act on their behalf).5 Joint descriptions are listed on the Commission’s register of political parties on the registration page for the relevant parties.

If you have been authorised by a political party to use the party name or a registered description on the ballot paper, you can also request that one of the party's official emblems is printed on the ballot paper next to your name.1

You must make the request for an emblem in writing and deliver it to the Returning Officer.2 The request must be received by the Returning Officer by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.3

A party can register up to three emblems. You may want to check with your party (e.g. with the Nominating Officer or someone authorised to act on their behalf) which emblem to use. Make sure you request a current emblem.

Candidates standing on behalf of two or more registered parties and using a joint description can use an emblem that has been registered by one of the relevant parties.4 The request must be made in writing and delivered to the RO5 by the close of nominations, i.e. by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.6 The RO will supply you with a form you can use to make this request or, alternatively, you can use the emblem request form produced by the Commission.

There are different nomination papers for elections held on 2 May 2024 and for those held on or after 7 May 2024. Please make sure you use the correct version, depending on when the poll will be held. Using the wrong nominations pack may cause your nomination to be rejected.

The request should state both the name of the political party and the description of the emblem to be used, as listed on the Commission’s online register of political parties. Registered emblems cannot be varied in any way.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your nomination papers, including the home address form and the consent to nomination, and where you are standing on behalf of a party, the certificate of authorisation and emblem request form, are delivered to the place specified on the notice of election by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.1

We recommend that you or someone you trust delivers them, so you can be sure they are delivered to the Returning Officer in time.

You should contact the RO as soon as possible to find out what arrangements are in place for submitting nomination papers. You will be able to contact the RO via your local elections office. Contact details can be obtained from our website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter
 

The nomination form, the home address form and consent to nomination must be delivered by hand and cannot be submitted by post, fax, e-mail or other electronic means.1

The certificate of authorisation and the emblem request form may be submitted by post, but may not be submitted by fax, e-mail or other electronic means.2

The original version of each completed paper must be submitted.3

For example, a certificate of authorisation which has been sent as an attachment to an email to be printed out would make it a ‘copy document’ and not the original document.
 

You should submit your nomination papers as early as possible to give you sufficient time to submit new nomination papers should your first set contain any errors.

Usually, nomination papers can only be delivered during normal office hours. The RO will confirm the exact details of when and where they can be delivered on the notice of election.

The notice of election will be published no later than 25 working days before the poll and will state the earliest date on which you can submit nomination papers.1

In most cases, the notice of election will be published on the website of the local authority in which the parish is situated.

After you have submitted your nomination papers you will be sent a notice by the Returning Officer to let you know whether or not your nomination is valid.2

If, after you have submitted your nomination papers you change your mind and no longer want to stand for election, you can withdraw, provided you do so by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.3

You may withdraw as a candidate by signing and submitting a withdrawal notice, which must be witnessed by one other person.1 There are no restrictions on who may submit the notice, but it must be delivered by hand. Your witness must also sign the notice. A notice of withdrawal can be obtained from your local RO or downloaded from our website.

If you are outside the UK and want to withdraw, your proposer can sign the withdrawal notice on your behalf. The withdrawal must be accompanied by a written declaration signed by your proposer confirming your absence.

If you are outside the UK and stand nominated by more than one nomination form, you should speak to the RO if you wish to withdraw as special rules apply in this instance.

The withdrawal notice must be submitted by the deadline for withdrawals (i.e. by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll).

After the withdrawal deadline it is not possible to withdraw from the election, and your name will appear on the ballot paper. If the election is uncontested, you will be declared elected.

If the parish is warded and you are validly nominated in more than one ward in that parish, you must withdraw from all wards but one before the deadline for withdrawals (i.e. by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll).1

If you do not withdraw from all but one ward, you will be deemed to have withdrawn from all of the wards. 
 

The RO will publish a statement of persons nominated for the parish, or for each parish ward if the parish is warded, by 4pm, 18 working days before the poll.1
  
The statement will include:2

• the full or commonly used names, as the case may be, of all candidates validly nominated
• the names of candidates who no longer stand nominated, if any (i.e. invalid and withdrawn candidates), with the reason why they are no longer standing
• the address of each candidate, or if they have requested not to make their home address public, the name of the relevant are in which their home address is situated (or the country if their home address is situated outside the UK)
• each candidate's description (if any)

Nomination forms and consent to nomination forms that have been delivered to the RO are open to inspection by anyone from the close of nominations until the day before the poll. Inspections take place during normal office hours, and anyone inspecting these forms can take a copy of them.1

Inspecting the home address form

Only certain people are entitled to inspect home address forms.2 These people are:

• any (other) person standing nominated as a candidate in the same electoral area as you
• the election agent of any other person standing nominated as a candidate in the same electoral area as you - (or, if the candidate is acting as their own agent, any person nominated by them)
• the proposer or seconder of any other person standing nominated as a candidate in the same electoral area as you

Inspections of the home address form can take place during normal office hours from the close of nominations until the day before the poll. However, no one is permitted to take an extract from them or make a copy of them.

After the close of nominations, the RO will establish whether or not there is a need to hold a poll in the parish or, if the parish is warded, in the parish wards.

If there are more candidates than seats after the deadline for withdrawals, there will be a poll.1 If, however, after the deadline for withdrawals the number of validly nominated candidates is less than or equal to the number of seats to be filled in the electoral area, those candidates are declared to be elected.2

In this case, the RO will declare those candidates to be elected to the parish council as soon as possible and will give public notice of the names of those declared elected.

Even if the election is uncontested, elected candidates must still make a declaration as to their election spending.  You can find more information in our guidance about submitting spending returns and taking up office.

If the RO is notified of a candidate’s death during the election campaign or even on polling day itself (but before the declaration of the result), the poll will be cancelled.1

The RO will in that case order a new election to fill the vacancy. The new polling day will be within 35 working days of the day fixed for the first election.2

Candidates already validly nominated do not have to be nominated a second time.3

Should a fellow candidate die during the campaign, the RO will provide you with further guidance.

If an already elected candidate dies after the declaration of the result, a by-election would be needed to fill the vacancy.

The following can apply to vote by post in local elections by submitting an application to their Electoral Registration Officer:

• A person aged 18 or over who is registered to vote
• A person aged 18 or over who or has applied to be registered to vote
• A person who has been appointed to vote as a proxy on behalf of someone else

The application must be received by the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.1

The Electoral Registration Officer has no discretion to extend the deadline for whatever reason.

Postal ballot will be sent to electors from around two weeks before polling day. Electors who registered close to the registration deadline will be issued with their postal ballot packs once their names have been added to the final register update on the fifth working day before the poll.

Electors who applied for their postal vote close to the application deadline will be issued with their postal ballot packs once their application has been determined.

Electors will then mark their ballot paper, complete the postal voting statement by providing their signature and date of birth, and return them to the Returning Officer before the close of poll (i.e. 10pm on polling day).

Postal ballot packs contain the following: 

• Envelope A is the envelope that the elector returns their ballot paper in. It is marked with the letter ‘A’ and the words ‘ballot paper envelope’
• Envelope B is the envelope that the elector will use to return the ballot paper envelope and the postal voting statement. It is marked with the letter ‘B’ and the address of the Returning Officer
• The postal voting statement contains the elector’s name, the number of the ballot paper issued to them, instructions on how to vote by post and space for the elector to sign and provide their date of birth
• The ballot paper

If the election is combined with another poll, the Returning Officer may have decided to combine the issue of postal votes. In that case, the postal ballot pack will also contain the ballot paper for the other electoral event(s).   
 

Who can attend the opening of postal votes?

Candidates and postal voting agents are not entitled to attend the issue of postal votes.

The following people are entitled to attend the opening of returned postal votes:

• You
• agents you have appointed to attend openings on your behalf.1 For details on how to appoint these agents see Appointing your postal voting agent.

Duty to maintain secrecy during postal vote opening sessions

Ballot papers will be kept face down throughout a postal vote opening session.2 Anyone attending an opening session has a duty to maintain secrecy and must not:

• obtain
• attempt to obtain
• communicate at any time to another person
  • any information relating to the number or other unique identifying mark on the back of a ballot paper3  
  • any information as to the official mark on a postal ballot paper before the close of poll4
• disclose how any particular ballot paper has been marked or pass on any such information gained from the session.5      

It follows therefore that keeping a tally of how ballot papers have been marked is not allowed.

Anyone found guilty of breaching these requirements can face an unlimited fine, or may be imprisoned for up to six months.6

You may appoint agents to attend postal vote openings.

Anyone can be appointed as a postal vote agent except for:

• the Returning Officer or a member of their staff 
• a partner or clerk of the Returning Officer or a member of their staff
• anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 1983

A person may be appointed as a postal voting agent for more than one candidate.1

You can automatically act as one of these agents without the need of an official appointment.2

The Returning Officer will tell you the maximum number of postal voting you can appoint.3 All candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number.

The request to appoint postal voting agents must be made in writing to the Returning Officer.4

The request must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.5 The Returning Officer will provide forms you can use for this, or you can use the Commission’s postal voting agent appointment form.

Appointment forms for postal voting agents need to be submitted to the Returning Officer by the time fixed for the opening of postal votes they want to attend.6

The Returning Officer will give you at least 48 hours’ notice before the scheduled start of each postal vote opening session.7

If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, you may appoint another agent in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the Returning Officer.8 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.

More information on what postal voting agents can and cannot do and what they can expect to see at postal vote opening sessions can be found in our guidance what does a postal voting agent do and the stages of the postal vote opening process.
 

A postal voting agent is allowed to attend and observe postal vote opening sessions, which are run by the Returning Officer.

At each opening session the Returning Officer will decide whether or not the date of birth and signature provided by electors on their postal voting statements match the signature and date of birth previously provided and held on their records. If there is a mismatch, the postal vote will be rejected.

A postal voting agent has a right to observe, but not to interfere with this process. A postal voting agent can, however, object to the decision of a Returning Officer to reject a postal vote.1 It will not affect the Returning Officer's decision, but the Returning Officer will record any objections by marking the postal voting statement with the words 'rejection objected to'.

Like your postal voting agents, both you and the person you may have appointed to attend on your behalf are also entitled to object to a rejection.

The Returning Officer will explain the postal vote opening process to you and may issue you with information on the procedures to be followed, including instructions on what you can and cannot do at the session. You should comply with any instructions that the Returning Officer has given.

You are entitled to observe proceedings inside polling stations.1 Additionally, you may appoint agents to attend polling stations on your behalf.2 For more information see our guidance on how to appoint polling agents. 

Finding the location of polling stations

The Returning Officer must give public notice of the location of polling stations by the sixth working day before the poll.3 They will give a copy of this notice to all appointed election agents soon after this.

Polling station opening hours

Polling stations will be open on polling day between 7am and 10pm. Any voters waiting in a queue at their polling station at 10pm will be allowed to vote, even if they haven’t yet been issued with a ballot paper. 
 

On polling day, you may be supported by campaigners, polling agents, and you may also intend to use tellers.
 
This section sets out more information about

• polling agents and how to appoint them
• the role of tellers
• the requirement to maintain the secrecy of the ballot
• dos and don’ts for candidates and their supporters on polling day
   

You may appoint people as agents to attend the polling stations.1

What does a polling agent do?

While a polling agent can observe the poll, they do not have to be present in a polling station for polling and related procedures to take place. Polling agents have a number of important roles to play on polling day. They can:

• be present in the polling station before the opening of the poll to watch the Presiding Officer show the empty ballot box before it is sealed
• detect personation and prevent people voting more than once in the election (other than as proxies). Personation is when an individual votes as someone else, whether that person is living, dead or fictitious.
• be present when the Presiding Officer marks a ballot paper at the request of an elector who needs assistance marking a ballot paper because of a disability or an inability to read or write
• report to you any improper activities and keep notes, if required, for giving evidence in court
• be present at the close of poll when the various packets of documents are sealed
• attach their seal to any packets made up by the Presiding Officer at the close of poll, including the ballot box. Polling agents’ seals cannot be attached to ballot boxes at the start of, or during, the poll.

You can also do anything that a polling agent is entitled to do.2  

Anyone can be appointed as a polling agent, provided that they are not:

• the Returning Officer or a member of their staff
• a partner or clerk of the Returning Officer or a member of their staff
• anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 1983

The same person may be appointed as a polling agent for more than one candidate.1 You can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment.2

The number of agents who may be appointed to any particular polling station is limited to four,3 or such greater number as the Returning Officer decides to allow. If more than that number are appointed, the Returning Officer will draw lots to determine those people who may attend. Only one polling agent for each candidate can be present in a polling station at any time, but a polling agent can be appointed to attend multiple polling stations. Your right to attend will remain unaffected by this.

Polling agents must be appointed by not later than 5 working days before the poll.4 The request to appoint polling agents must be made in writing to the Returning Officer.5 It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.6 The Returning Officer will provide forms you can use for this, or you can use the Commission’s polling agent appointment form.

If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, you may appoint another agent in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the Returning Office.7 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.

Tellers are people who stand outside polling places and record the elector numbers of electors who have voted. They can then identify likely supporters who have not voted and encourage them to vote before the close of poll.

Tellers have no legal status and voters can refuse to give information to them. The Returning Officer is in charge of the conduct of the election .If they are concerned by the activities of tellers, they can ask tellers to comply with agreed behaviour or leave the polling place.

We have produced a factsheet of tellers’ dos and don’ts, as well as more comprehensive guidance on the activities of tellers. The guidance aims to ensure that everyone knows precisely what is and is not acceptable and is designed to promote appropriate standards of conduct. The Returning Officer may also provide their own version of guidance to tellers.

You should:

• make sure that any tellers working for you follow our tellers’ dos and don’ts and any guidance issued by the Returning Officer.

  Tellers' dos and don'ts (PDF)
• make sure your campaigners follow the Code of conduct for campaigners in Great Britain which sets out what is, and is not, considered acceptable behaviour at polling stations and in the community.
• comply with requests by polling station staff or the Returning Officer about campaigning near polling stations. You should, however, be allowed to put your message to voters on polling day, including in public spaces outside polling places.

• make sure that any agents who are attending polling stations, postal vote opening sessions or the count understand the rules about the secrecy of the ballot. For more information, see our documents setting out the secrecy requirements for the poll, postal voting and the count.

  Secrecy requirements - the poll (DOCX)
  Secrecy requirements - postal voting (DOCX)
  Secrecy requirements - the count

You must not:

• campaign near polling stations in a way that could be seen by voters as aggressive or intimidating (for example, large groups of supporters carrying banners, or vehicles with loudspeakers or heavily branded with campaign material).
• breach the requirements on secrecy of the ballot.1 This is an essential part of any modern democracy and breaches are taken seriously.
• seek to identify and publicise how votes have been marked on individual ballot papers, particularly if you (or your agents) attend postal vote opening sessions.
• publish exit polls or any other data based on information given by people about how they voted after they have cast their vote, including a postal vote, before the close of poll2

You are entitled to observe the count.1

Additionally, you can invite one other person to attend, this person is in attendance as your guest, they have no powers or functions.

You may also appoint agents to attend the count on your behalf.2

What does a counting agent do?

Counting agents have a number of important roles to play at the count:

• they observe the counting process and make sure that it is accurate
• they can draw to the attention of count staff any doubtful ballot papers
• if they disagree with a decision by the Returning Officer to reject a ballot paper, they can ask the Returning Officer to mark on the ballot paper “rejection objected to”
• if a count is suspended for any reason, counting agents can add their seals when the Returning Officer seals the ballot boxes and envelopes

You can do anything a counting agent is allowed to do.3  

You may appoint other people as agents to attend the count.1

Anyone, apart from those listed below can be appointed as a counting agent:  

• the Returning Officer or a member of their staff 
• a partner or clerk of the Returning Officer or a member of their staff 
• anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 1983

The same person may be appointed as a counting agent for more than one candidate.2 You can also automatically act as one of those agents without the need of an official appointment.3

The Returning Officer will tell you the maximum number of counting agents you can appoint. All candidates will be allowed to appoint exactly the same number.4

At the count, unless there are special circumstances, the number of counting agents allowed for each candidate will not be less than the number obtained by dividing the number of counting assistants (i.e. those staff employed on the counting) by the number of candidates.5

The request to appoint these agents must be made in writing to the Returning Officer.6 It must contain the names and addresses of the people being appointed.7 The Returning Officer will provide forms you can use for this, or you can find counting agent appointment forms on the Commission’s website.

The deadline for appointing counting agents is by no later than the fifth working day before the poll.8

If an agent dies or becomes incapable of acting, you may appoint another agent in their place by submitting the relevant appointment form to the Returning Officer.9 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.

For more information on what agents can and cannot do and what they can expect to see at the count, guidance can be found in What does a counting agent do?

Check in

The Returning Officer’s staff will deliver the ballot boxes from the polling station to the count venue.

The Returning Officer’s staff check in the ballot boxes as they arrive at the count venue.

Verification

Ballot boxes are emptied onto tables and the empty boxes are shown to agents.

Staff count the ballot papers from each polling station.

Staff verify that the number of ballot papers matches the number of papers issued, as recorded on the Presiding Officers’ ballot paper accounts.

The verified ballot papers are shown to election and counting agents face up.

The Returning Officer determines the reasons for any discrepancies and produces a final verified total.

The Returning Officer produces a statement of the verification. Agents can view or copy this statement if they wish.

Where the election has been combined with another electoral event, all ballot boxes will be verified before any results are declared.

There may be a single ballot box for all elections or separate boxes for each. In any case, ballot papers will be sorted into the separate contests.

Any ballot paper found in the ‘wrong’ ballot box is still valid and will be moved to the correct box during verification.

If the count does not take place immediately following verification, the verified boxes will be stored securely. Candidates and agents can attach their seals to boxes if they wish.

Counting of the votes

Staff sort ballot papers by candidate. Where more than one candidate is to be elected, the Returning Officer may use different methods to establish the votes cast for each candidate, e.g. counting sheets or ‘grass skirts’.

Staff count the number of votes cast for each candidate.

The Returning Officer will share the provisional result with you and the agents. You can ask the Returning Officer to recount the votes.

The Returning Officer can refuse to recount if they think the request is unreasonable.

A ballot paper will not be counted if it:

• is unmarked
• does not contain the official mark
• contains votes for more candidates than the number of vacancies
• contains any mark or writing that can identify the voter
• does not indicate the voter’s intention with certainty

The Returning Officer must draw up a statement showing the number of ballot papers rejected for these reasons.1

The Returning Officer must mark the word “rejected” on any ballot paper that is rejected. They must add the words “rejection objected to” if a counting agent objects to the Returning Officer’s decision.

If the voter’s intention is clear on a ballot paper and the voter cannot be identified by any mark or writing, it will not be void if a vote is marked:

• elsewhere than in the proper place
• by other means than a cross (e.g. a tick)
• by more than one mark

 For more details on the adjudication of doubtful ballot papers, see our guidance below.

Doubtful ballot papers

If two or more candidates have the same number of votes, and a further vote for either would see the candidate elected, the Returning Officer must decide between them by drawing lots. 

The Returning Officer will decide the method of drawing lots. 
 

The Returning Officer will declare elected the candidate (or candidates in the case of multi-seat vacancy) with the most votes.

The Returning Officer will give public notice of the result.

The Returning Officer will publish a notice with the name of each candidate elected, the number of votes for all candidates, and the number of rejected ballot papers.

Some Returning Officers allow candidates to make speeches after the result is declared. Please check arrangements with your Returning Officer.

What happens to the paperwork after the result is announced?

The Returning Officer must seal all election documentation, add a description of the contents to each packet and forward them on to the Electoral Registration Officer.

For more information on what happens after the declaration of the result see our guidance on After the election.
 

This section sets out what happens after the election, including actions that candidates must take.
 
This covers:

• Submitting your spending return and the associated deadlines
• Access and supply of election documents
• Election petitions

After the election, the candidate should make sure that:

• all invoices are received no later than 14 calendar days after polling day1
• all invoices are paid no later than 21 calendar days after polling day2
• an election spending return reporting details of the candidate’s spending, together with a declaration confirming the return is complete and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief, is reported to the Returning Officer no later than 28 days after polling day.3

Please note that if the deadline for any of the above falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline will move to the next working day.4  This is included within the following deadline calculations.

You must still submit a return even if you haven’t spent any money.5  This is called a ‘nil return’.

There are consequences for failure to submit spending returns and these are set out in What happens if a spending return or declaration isn’t submitted?

Invoices received or paid outside of the deadlines

We call claims (invoices for your candidate spending) that are received by the election agent later than the deadline of 14 days, unpaid claims.

Unpaid claims cannot legally be paid unless a court order is gained granting leave to pay the claim.6   It can be an offence to pay an unpaid claim without a court order.7

We call claims (invoices) that were submitted within the deadline of 14 days but remain unpaid later than the deadline of 21 days, disputed claims.

Disputed claims cannot legally be paid without a court order first being gained granting leave to pay the claim.8

The spending report is known as a ‘return’.

This should include the following for each item of spending:1

• what the spending was for – for example, leaflets or advertising
• the name and address of the supplier
• the amount or value
• details of when it was incurred and paid
• details of any unpaid or disputed amounts
• details of any notional spending, and a declaration of its value
• invoices or receipts for any payment of £10 or over
• details of any personal expenses

There is more information on the details that you need to report in Candidate spending.

The spending return must be accompanied by a declaration to verify the return.2  It is your responsibility to fully and accurately report candidate spending.

It is a criminal offence to make a false declaration knowingly.3

Forms you will need:

Failure to submit a spending return or declaration by the deadline without an authorised excuse is a criminal offence.1
 
The Electoral Commission has a legal remit to secure compliance with the rules on candidates’ spending and donations, but no sanctioning powers in respect of breaches. Suspected breaches of the rules should be referred to the police.

If a candidate has been elected but the spending return and/or declaration has not been submitted by the deadline they are barred from sitting or voting, and can be subject to a forfeit or fine of £50 per day if they do so.2  
 

If you do not comply with the legal or regulatory requirements, you may be subject to criminal sanctions.  If you win the election and someone succeeds in an election petition against your campaign activities or reporting, you could be barred from holding office.

You can find more information about the Commission’s regulatory role at: electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/our-enforcement-work

After the results are declared, all election documents are securely held by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) for a period of 12 months.1

Most documents are available for public inspection. Please note that ballot papers are not open to public inspection.

Inspection and Supply of the marked register and lists of absent voters

The marked electoral registers and lists of absent voters show who has been issued with a ballot paper, who has returned their postal ballot paper, and who has had a proxy vote cast on their behalf.

You can inspect or obtain copies of the marked register of electors and lists of absent voters after the election if you make a request in writing to the Electoral Registration Officer. Contact details are available on our website https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.

You should be aware that you can only use the information obtained from these documents for research or electoral purposes.

The request for inspection must specify:1

• which documents are requested
• the purposes for which the information in any document will be used
• where the request is to inspect the marked register or lists, any reason why inspecting the full register or unmarked lists would not be sufficient to achieve that purpose
• who will inspect the documents
• the date on which you wish to inspect the documents
• whether you would prefer to inspect the documents in a printed or data form
  Inspection is under supervision and will be free of charge. You won’t be able to take copies, but may make handwritten notes.

 The request for supply must specify:1  

• which of the marked register or lists (or the relevant part of the register or lists) are requested
• whether a printed copy of the records or lists is requested or a copy in data form
• the purposes for which the marked register or lists will be used and why the supply or purchase of a copy of the full register or unmarked lists would not be sufficient to achieve that purpose

The requested document will be supplied for a fee of £10 plus £2 for printed and £1 for data versions per 1,000 entries.1

Note that after 12 months these documents, held by the Electoral Registration Officer, will be destroyed, unless a court order directs otherwise.1

Under current data protection legislation personal data processed for any purpose shall not be kept for longer than is necessary for that purpose. If you request and are supplied with any of the information listed above, once the purpose for collecting this data has passed, you need to consider if there is a reason for you to retain that data. If there is not you should ensure secure destruction of any data held.

Nomination papers cannot be inspected after the election. They can only be inspected until the day before the poll.

Inspection of other election documents

You can inspect other election documents, but you will not be allowed to make any notes or take copies of these documents. The only documents that cannot be inspected are:

• the ballot papers
• the corresponding number lists
• the certificates allowing polling station staff to vote at the polling station they are working at
• the Ballot Paper Refusal List (information from this list can only be disclosed to the relevant elector or proxy on request following their refusal)1

After 12 months all of the election documents that are held by the Electoral Registration Officer will be destroyed, unless a court order directs otherwise.1

Election spending returns1

The spending returns and declarations are held by the Returning Officer. Spending returns and declarations can be inspected by any person after they have been submitted. Copies can also be made for a fee of 20p per side.

Spending returns and declarations are kept for one year and you can request to have them returned to you at the end of this period. If you do not want them back, they may be destroyed.

The outcome of a parish council election can be challenged through an election petition.

Lodging an election petition

Only certain people can lodge an election petition, and only under specific circumstances.
An election petition can be presented by:1

• someone claiming to have been a candidate at the election, or
• at least four electors (not anonymously registered electors) who had a right to vote at the election (although they need not have voted)

The allowable grounds for a petition are that:2  

• the successful candidate was disqualified at the time of the election
• the successful candidate was not duly elected
• the election was invalidated by corrupt or illegal practices
• the election was invalidated because of general corruption or the employment of a corrupt canvasser/ agent

Normally, a petition must be presented within 21 calendar days after the date of the election.3 However, if the petition complains of corrupt or illegal practices involving the payment of money or other reward, or an illegal practice relating to election spending, further time may be allowed.

For any questions relating to election petitions, including to confirm the deadlines for lodging an election petition, you should contact the Election Petitions Office:

The Election Petitions Office
Room E105
Royal Courts of Justice
Strand
London
WC2A 2LL

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 0207 947 6877

Fax: 0870 324 0024

There are costs attached to an election petition. If you are considering lodging an election petition, we strongly recommend that you take independent legal advice.

What you need to know before you stand as a candidate

Campaigning

Nominations

There are different nomination papers for elections held on 2 May 2024 and for those held on or after 7 May 2024. Please make sure you use the correct version, depending on when the poll will be held. Using the wrong nominations pack may cause your nomination to be rejected.

Postal votes

Polling Day

Verification and count

After the election