Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Combined Authority Mayoral elections

Objections to nominations

Objections to the validity of any nomination form or any home address form can be made 19 working days before the poll.

The time within which an objection can be made depends on when the nomination papers and home address forms are delivered.

If you are your own election agent, you can appoint one other person to attend the delivery of nomination papers and make objections.

Timetable for objections1  

Nominations delivered up to 4pm, 20 working days before the poll

Objections to any nomination form or home address form delivered up to and including 4pm, 20 working days before the poll must be made between 10 am and 12 noon, 19 working days before the poll.

Nominations delivered after 4pm, 20 working days before the poll

Objections to any nomination form or any home address form delivered after 4pm, 20 working days before the poll must be made between 10am and 5pm, 19 working days before the poll. Any objection must be made at or immediately after the time of the delivery of the nomination.

Decisions on objections

The CARO will consider any objections made, but is entitled to hold a nomination invalid only on the following grounds:2

  • that the particulars of the candidate or subscribers on the nomination form are not as required by law
  • that the nomination form is not subscribed as required
  • that the home address form does not comply with the requirements as to the details to be provided on it

The CARO’s decision that a nomination is valid is final and cannot be challenged during the election. The decision can only be challenged after an election through an election petition. Further information can be found in our guidance on election petitions.
 

Last updated: 1 December 2023