A candidate can withdraw their candidature if they do so before the deadline.1
A withdrawal notice is not prescribed in legislation but we do provide a template withdrawal notice for candidates to use.
A notice of withdrawal must be:
signed by the candidate
attested by one witness
delivered by hand to the place for the delivery of nomination papers
delivered by 4pm on the twenty-fourth working day before the poll2
There are no restrictions on who can deliver a notice of withdrawal.
If the candidate is not in the UK, a notice of withdrawal will be effective if it is:3
signed by the candidate's election agent
accompanied by a written declaration that the candidate is abroad (also signed by the election agent)
delivered to you by 4pm on the twenty-fourth working day before the poll (i.e. by the deadline for withdrawals)
If the candidate who is not in the UK, is nominated by more than one nomination paper, the withdrawal signed by the election agent is only valid if it is accompanied by an additional written statement signed by the candidate, authorising the election agent to withdraw while candidate is his absent from the UK.
The details of any candidates who by the close of withdrawals remain nominated must be printed on the ballot papers. If a candidate has not withdrawn by the deadline, their details must go forward to the ballot paper.4
Where a candidate is not shown as standing nominated in the statement of persons nominated, the deposit must be returned as soon as practicable after the publication of the statement of persons nominated to the person who made it or their personal representative.5