Guidance for Candidates and Agents at Police and Crime Commissioner elections

Political parties authorise candidates to stand for them by issuing a certificate of authorisation. This must state that the named candidate can stand on their behalf and allow them to use one of the following:1

• the exact party name as registered with the Commission
• one of the party’s registered descriptions
• your choice of either the registered party name or one of the registered descriptions 

If you are a candidate in Wales, you may use either the English version, Welsh version or both versions of either the party name or description, as long as they are registered with us.

Registered party names and descriptions can be found on the Commission’s online register of political parties http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk

Particular care should be taken by the Nominating Officer (or someone authorised to act on their behalf) when completing the certificate of authorisation. If the certificate explicitly authorises a particular party name/description and this does not match the party name/description on the nomination paper, the whole nomination will be invalid.2

The certificate of authorisation must be signed by the registered Nominating Officer of the political party or by someone authorised by the Nominating Officer to act on their behalf,3  and must be received to the PARO by the nominations deadline, 4pm, 19 working days before the poll.4

If you are standing on behalf of two parties jointly, you will need a certificate of authorisation from the Nominating Officer of each of the registered parties (or people authorised to act on their behalf).5  Joint descriptions are listed on the Commission’s register of political parties on the registration page for the relevant parties.