Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Combined Authority Mayoral elections

Appointing an election agent

Because of the responsibilities attached to the role of an election agent you should consider carefully who you appoint and make sure that they understand their obligations. You can be your own agent if you wish.

You, or someone on your behalf, must declare in writing the name, address and office address of your election agent to the CARO by 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.1 The declaration should be signed by you (or the person making the declaration on your behalf) and by the agent to show their acceptance of the appointment.

It is helpful also to provide a contact telephone number and email address for your election agent so that the CARO or a local Returning Officer can easily contact them.

The CARO may provide a declaration form, or you could use the form included in the Commission’s set of nomination papers. 

For candidates at combined authority mayoral elections without the police [fire] and crime functions:


For candidates at combined authority mayoral elections with police [fire] and crime functions:


If you do not appoint someone as your agent by the deadline, you will automatically become your own agent.2

Your agent's office address must be within the combined authority area in which you are standing for election as mayor.3 It must be a physical address4 – PO boxes or similar mailboxes cannot be used. The agent's office address will often be their home address, but it could be an office set up for the election.

If you automatically become your own election agent, because you have not appointed an agent, the office address is deemed to be the address you provided on the home address form.5 If that address is outside the combined authority area, the office address is deemed to be the address of your proposer (i.e. the first subscriber on your nomination form).

This is the case even where you have chosen to withhold your home address form the statement of persons nominated and the ballot paper.

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.6 Any new appointment in these circumstances must be made without delay.

Last updated: 13 September 2024