You must return the deposit of any candidate that has polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes cast at the election.1
You must return the deposit to the person who made the deposit or, if the candidate has died, to their personal representative, not later than the next working day after the election result was declared.2
If you are returning a deposit by cheque, it is treated as being returned on the day on which the cheque is posted.3
Any candidate who has not polled more than 5% of the total number of valid votes will forfeit their deposit to the combined authority.4