Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Greater London Authority elections

The election agent is the person responsible for the proper management of your election campaign and, in particular, for its financial management. 

Everyone must have an election agent.1   

Once appointed, payments for election expenses can only be made by or through the election agent.2 See our guidance for more information about candidate spending.

Who can be an election agent?   

There are no particular qualifications needed to be an election agent and you can be your own agent if you wish.

However, the following people are not allowed to be election agents: 

• the GLRO, a Constituency Returning Officer or a member of their staff3
• a partner or clerk of the GLRO, a CRO or a member of their staff4
• anyone not entitled to vote at the election as a result of the report of an election court or a conviction for a corrupt or illegal practice under the Representation of the People Act 19835

Other agents

You can also appoint other agents to observe the following electoral processes, which both you and your election agent are also entitled to observe:

• the opening of postal votes 
• the poll
• the count