Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Greater London Authority elections

When do you officially become a candidate?

The day a person officially becomes a candidate depends on what they are being nominated for.

Mayor of London and Constituency Member candidates

The earliest a person standing in the election of the Mayor of London or at the Constituency Member Assembly election can become a candidate is on the last day for publication of the notice of election.

Party List candidates 

A person standing on a party list will officially become a candidate on the date the party list is submitted to the GLRO.

Individual London-wide assembly candidates 

The earliest a person standing as an individual candidate at the London-wide Assembly election can officially become a candidate is also on the last day for publication of the notice of election. They will become a candidate on this day if on or before this date they have already declared that they are a candidate at the election (or another person has declared that they are a candidate).

After the last day for publication of the notice of election, a mayoral, constituency or individual candidate at the London-wide Assembly election will become a candidate either on the date they, or others, declare that they will be a candidate at the election, or on the date their nomination papers are submitted, whichever is the earlier.

The day after the date you officially become a candidate, spending and donation rules will apply. 

Mayoral, Constituency and individual candidates at the London-wide Assembly Member election are entitled to a copy of the register of electors and list of absent voters for the area they are contesting.1 The relevant register of electors can only be supplied once a person officially becomes a candidate.

Party list candidates are not entitled to receive copies of the electoral register or list of absent voters – instead, the election agent for the party list, once the party list has been submitted to the GLRO, will be entitled to a copy.2

In addition, you can use publicly funded rooms and schools for public meetings

You can start campaigning before you officially become a candidate. More information is set out in our guidance on campaigning.

Last updated: 1 February 2024