Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Using schools and rooms for public meetings 

You may want to engage with the public at public meetings, promoting your views and responding to questions from the audience.

The Electoral Registration Officer of each local authority in England and Wales, keeps a list of the location and availability of meeting rooms in their area. They will make this list available for inspection by candidates and election agents, from the day the notice of election is published.

Once you are a candidate, you will be able to use public rooms up until the day before polling day.1  

Contact details for Electoral Registration Officers can be found on www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

You should contact the owner of the premises to make a booking, giving reasonable notice to reduce the risk of the request being refused. Your right to use rooms does not include hours during which a school is used for educational purposes or when any prior letting of a room has been agreed.

There is no hire charge for using these rooms, but you must pay for any expenses incurred, such as heating, lighting and cleaning and for any damage to the premises.
 

Last updated: 29 November 2023