To become nominated as a candidate at a combined authority mayoral election, you need to submit a completed set of nomination papers to the place fixed by the Combined Authority Returning Officer (CARO) by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.1
This deadline is set out in law and cannot be changed for any reason.
You can submit nomination papers between 10am to 4pm on any working day, starting from the day after the notice of election is published. The notice of election will set out the times and place for delivery2
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There are three nomination papers that you must submit for your nomination to be valid:3
the nomination form
a home address form
your consent to nomination
The CARO can hold your nomination paper invalid if the particulars of your nomination are not as required by law. The CARO can also reject your nomination if they conclude that it is clearly a sham, for example, if an obviously fictitious name or address are provided.
If you, your agent or someone you trust are unable to complete the nomination form, the CARO can help by preparing the form for your signature4
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The CARO may also be able to offer informal checks of your completed nomination papers before you submit them. You should find out from the CARO 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 imprisonment5
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You may make a request in writing to the CARO for the total number of local government electors on the registers on the last day for publication of the notice of election. The CARO must provide this information as soon as practicable, together with the total number of constituent councils in the combined authority area. You will need this information for the purposes of calculating your spending limit.
Alongside your nomination papers, you must also lodge a deposit of £5,000 with the CARO. See our guidance on Deposits for further details.
The notice of election must be published by not later than twenty-five working days before the poll.