Guidance for the GLRO administering the GLA elections

Election petitions

An election petition can be used to challenge the result of the elections.

An election petition for an Assembly or Mayoral election can be presented by: 
1

• a person claiming to have been a candidate at the election, or
• four or more persons who voted at the election or who had a right to vote at the election, except for electors registered anonymously

What is the basis for an election petition?

The allowable grounds for a petition are that:2

• the person whose election is questioned was not duly elected
• the person whose election is questioned was disqualified at the time of the election
• the election was invalidated by corrupt or illegal practices or on the grounds specified in Sections 164 and 165 of the Representation of the People Act 1983

Who is made a respondent?

The person whose election is questioned by the petition will most probably be made a respondent to the petition. As GLRO, you will be a respondent to the petition if the petition relates to the conduct of the election, and if it relates to the conduct of the election in a particular constituency, the relevant CRO may also be a respondent.3  

Deadlines for bringing petitions

A petition at an Assembly election or at a Mayoral election must be presented within 21 days after the day on which the election was held. Further time is allowed in certain circumstances.4

Any person who is considering presenting an election petition should be advised to take their own legal advice. For any questions relating to election petitions, including confirming the deadlines, you should contact the Election Petitions Office:

The Election Petitions Office 
Room E105 
Royal Courts of Justice 
Strand 
London WC2A 2LL 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: 0207 947 6877