Guidance for Candidates and Agents at UK Parliamentary by-elections in Great Britain

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The nomination form

Your name and description (if you choose to use one) should be written on the nomination form before you ask subscribers to sign the form.

The nomination form must be completed in English or, in Wales, in English or Welsh.

We have provided a nomination form which you can use:

Nomination papers - UK Parliamentary General Election (DOCX)

The form must contain:

Your full name1

This means your surname and other names in full.
Using initials only could lead to your nomination paper being rejected.
Do not use prefixes such as Mr, Mrs, Dr or Cllr as part of your name.
The same applies to suffixes. However, if you have a title, you can use this as your full name. For example, if your actual name is Joseph Smith but your hereditary title is Joseph Avon, you can use the name Joseph Avon as your full name.

Signatures of 10 registered electors2

Also known as subscribers from the constituency.
Your subscribers must be on the Parliamentary electoral register that is in force on the last day for publication of the notice of election (i.e. on the second day after the (Acting) Returning Officer has received the writ). For more information on see our guidance on subscribers.

Description

You can also choose to use a description on your nomination paper. The type of description you can use depends on whether you are an independent or party candidate.

Independent candidates	You can only use “Independent”, and/or “Annibynnol” in Wales, as your description.
Political party candidates	You can use a party name or description. 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 the Commission. Welsh translations of party names are listed on the website under ‘other name’ and translations of descriptions are listed to the right of the description under ‘translation(s)’. If you want to use a party name or description, you must also submit alongside your other nomination papers a certificate that shows that you are authorised to use the party’s name or description. More information is set out in our guidance for candidates standing on behalf of political parties.

Independent candidates

You can only use “Independent”, and/or “Annibynnol” in Wales, as your description.

Political party candidates

You can use a party name or description. 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 the Commission. Welsh translations of party names are listed on the website under ‘other name’ and translations of descriptions are listed to the right of the description under ‘translation(s)’.

If you want to use a party name or description, you must also submit alongside your other nomination papers a certificate that shows that you are authorised to use the party’s name or description. More information is set out in our guidance for candidates standing on behalf of political parties.

You do not have to use a description. If you choose not to use a description, you can leave the description field of the nomination form blank.

Last updated: 28 March 2024