Objections to the validity of any nomination form or home address form can be made, in most circumstances, on the last day for the delivery of nomination papers, i.e. 19 working days before the poll.1
In one exceptional circumstance, where the objection is on the grounds that a candidate is disqualified because they are serving a prison sentence of a year or more, objections can be made 18 working days before the poll.
The time within which an objection can be made depends on when the nomination papers are delivered.
Nominations delivered up to 4pm on the day before the deadline for the delivery of nomination papers
Objections to any nomination form or home address form delivered up to and including 4pm on the day before the deadline for the delivery of nomination papers must be made between 10am and 12 noon on the last day for the delivery of nomination papers.
Nominations delivered after 4pm on the day before the deadline for the delivery of nomination papers
Objections to any nomination form delivered after 4pm on the day before the deadline for the delivery of nomination papers must be made between 10am and 5pm on the last day for the delivery of nomination papers. Any objection must be made at or immediately after the time of the delivery of the nomination.
Objections on the grounds that a candidate is imprisoned for a year or more
In the rare case that the (Acting) Returning Officer considers that a candidate may be disqualified because they are imprisoned and serving a sentence of a year or more, they will publish a notice inviting objections on those grounds. Any such objection may be made between 10am and 4pm on the next working day following the deadline for the delivery of nomination papers.
The (Acting) Returning Officer will consider any objections made, but is entitled to hold a nomination invalid only on the following grounds:
that the particulars of the candidate or subscribers are not as required by law
that the paper is not subscribed as required
that the candidate is disqualified on the grounds that they are imprisoned and serving a sentence of a year or more
The (Acting) Returning Officer’s decision that a nomination is valid is final and cannot be challenged during the election. The decision can only be challenged after an election through an election petition.