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

Will the election be contested or uncontested?

The election is uncontested if either:

  • only one valid nomination is received
  • all valid nominations are properly withdrawn by the deadline except one

If the election is uncontested, the (A)RO will declare the one validly nominated candidate to be elected as soon as possible and will give public notice of the name of those declared elected.

Even if the election is uncontested, elected candidates must still make a declaration as to their election spending. You can find more information in our guidance about submitting spending returns and taking up office in our guidance.

Last updated: 11 January 2024