Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Greater London Authority elections

Access by Mayor of London candidates, Constituency Assembly Member candidates and individual candidates at the London-wide Assembly Member election

Candidates at the election of the Mayor of London, Constituency Assembly Member candidates, and individual candidates at the London-wide Assembly Member election are entitled to receive a copy of the electoral register and lists of people voting by post or proxy (‘the lists of absent voters’) once they officially become a candidate.1

• Mayoral and individual candidates at the London-wide Assembly elections are entitled to copies for the whole of the Greater London Authority area
• Constituency candidates are entitled to copies covering the constituency they are standing in

Access to the electoral register may be helpful before a candidate officially becomes a candidate and is eligible to receive it. For example, one of the requirements to become a validly nominated candidate at the election of the Mayor of London is to obtain subscribers in support of the nomination.

Candidates at the election of the Mayor of London who wish to use the register to prepare for their nomination in advance of the time they officially become a candidate, may inspect the electoral register under supervision at the relevant local authority. However, only hand written notes may be taken.

Access by party lists

The election agent of a registered political party that has submitted a list of candidates for the London-wide Assembly Member election is entitled to a copy of the electoral register and lists of absent voters for the whole of Greater London.2 The register and lists can only be supplied to the election agent after the party has submitted a list of candidates for the London-wide Assembly election.

Registered political parties are, however, entitled to obtain and use the electoral register and absent voters lists at any time for electoral purposes and, in the case of the register, for the checking of donations.

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.