Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Greater London Authority (GLA) election
Providing information on the nomination process
It is important to raise awareness of the availability of information for those wishing to stand for election through the provision of briefings and online or printed guidance, especially for those who have not made direct contact with you or your staff.
When providing information or briefing sessions about the nomination process you should ensure you include information on:
- relevant deadlines
- submission rules
- use of the electoral register
- the use of commonly used names
- the completion of nomination papers
- the use of party names, descriptions and emblems
- any informal checking process arrangements you have in place
Questions of eligibility or disqualification are for the candidate only and you should not give advice on such matters. The candidate should be directed to our guidance for candidates and agents in the first instance. Should they have any further concerns, you should advise them to seek their own legal advice.
Nomination packs
You should prepare a nomination pack for any person who expresses an interest in standing for election.
The nomination pack for constituency Assembly Member candidates should contain:
- a nomination form
- a home address form
- a consent to nomination form
- a form for the candidate or someone on their behalf to give notice of appointment of an election agent
- a form for election agents to give notice of appointment of any sub agents
- forms for candidates to give notice of appointment of polling agents
- forms for candidates to give notice of appointment of postal voting agents
- forms for candidates to give notice of appointment of counting agents
- a certificate of authorisation to allow a candidate to stand on behalf of a registered political party
- a form for a candidate standing on behalf of a registered political party to request the use of an emblem
- copies of the candidate and agents’ guidance produced by the Commission and London Elects so that candidates and agents have written information covering key aspects of the electoral process, including the qualifications and disqualifications for election, the nominations process, campaigning dos and don’ts, election spending rules, accessing electoral proceedings and what happens after the declaration of the result
- details of any local arrangements, such as the arrangements for the opening of postal votes, the poll and the count
- a copy of the Code of conduct for campaigners in Great Britain which sets out what is, and is not, considered acceptable behaviour at polling stations and in the community
- details of how to obtain a copy of the electoral register and the absent voters’ lists, forms to make such requests with information on where to send these request forms to. You should highlight that the information contained in the electoral register and absent voting lists may only be used in accordance with the Representation of the People regulations 2001 and in accordance with data protection legislation.
- information on the spending limit for candidates at the election and guidance for candidates and agents on spending and donations
- any other relevant information
Nomination packs for the Mayor of London and London-wide Assembly Member elections are available from the GLRO through London Elects.