Guidance for Returning Officers administering a Senedd election

Party lists

Once an election agent has been appointed they cannot resign from their role. The appointment may only be revoked by or on behalf of the party and in respect of all candidates. In this case a new election agent must be appointed, or the highest listed candidate would become the agent by default.1

If the candidate who is first on the party’s list is acting as the election agent for that party list, they can also revoke their own appointment and appoint a new agent. This is irrespective of whether they became an agent as a result of the party not having appointed one or because they had given written notice of their own appointment.

Individual candidates 

Once an election agent has been appointed they cannot resign from their role. Only the candidate may revoke the appointment. In this case, the candidate would need to appoint a new election agent or would become their own agent.2
 
If an individual candidate is acting as their own election agent, irrespective of whether they became an agent as a result of not appointing one or because they had given written notice of their own appointment, they can also revoke their own appointment and appoint a new agent. 

Revoking an appointment

A candidate may revoke the appointment of an election agent at any time during the election period. Wherever the appointment of an election agent is revoked, you must be notified in writing of any such changes.3

You must then publish a revised version of the notice of election agents.4

Where possible, if an election agent is revoked but has already been involved in authorising expenditure of campaign materials, the candidate should obtain a declaration from the previous agent regarding any expenses which occurred during their time as agent, to support the candidate’s submission of their final expenses return.