For your nomination to be valid, the sum of £500 must be deposited with the Regional Returning Officer (RRO) by the deadline for nominations by 4pm, 23 working days before the poll. The deposit can be made using:1
legal tender - cash (pounds only)
a UK banker’s draft
The RRO may also accept a deposit made by a building society cheque, a debit or credit card or an electronic transfer. However, they may refuse to do so. If you are considering paying the deposit in one of these ways, you should discuss with the RRO at the earliest opportunity whether the payment method is acceptable.
If the RRO allows the deposit to be paid by credit or debit card, there may be a fee charged by the bank or credit card company for the transaction, in which case you will be required to pay any additional fees as well as the £500 deposit.
Where payment is made by electronic transfer, candidates or their agents are responsible for ensuring cleared funds are received by the RRO by the deadline for the delivery of nominations, 4pm, 23 working days before the poll. This deadline is set out in law and cannot be changed for any reason. You are strongly advised to have made the deposit by the time that you submit your nomination papers.
Unless you make the deposit yourself, or the person making the deposit is your agent and you have notified the RRO of their appointment, the person making the deposit must at the time they make it give their name and address to the RRO.2
After the election, the deposit will be returned to you if you poll more than 5% of the valid votes cast in the region. Those candidates who have polled less than, or equal to, 5% of the total number of the valid votes cast will lose their deposit.3