Decision as to the validity of party nomination papers
As soon as practicable after a party has delivered the appropriate deposit, the nomination papers including the nomination form, the home address forms, and the consent to nomination forms for each candidate on the list, you must examine them and decide whether the party has been validly nominated.1
The party and each candidate on the party list stands nominated unless and until:
you decide the nomination paper is invalid
a candidate dies
a candidate withdraws
In the case where a party list candidate dies or withdraws that candidate is removed from the party list. Where other candidates remain on the party list, that list remains validly nominated.
Grounds for determining a party list candidate has ceased to stand nominated
On examining the nomination paper, you are entitled to decide that a party list candidate has ceased to stand nominated. The grounds for this decision are that:
the particulars of a candidate in that list are not as required by law
a candidate is disqualified under section 16(A1) of the Government of Wales Act 2006 from being a Member of the Senedd, and from being a candidate to be a Member of the Senedd
Where you determine that a candidate on a party list ceases to stand nominated, it does not prevent any other candidate on the party list from standing nominated.
Grounds for determining a party nomination paper invalid
By law, the only grounds you have for determining that a nomination paper is invalid are:
that the nomination form does not include a party name or description in breach of rule 6(3) of the Senedd election rules
that the nomination form does not include a party list, or more than 8 candidates have been included on the party list
that the nomination form does not include a certificate authorising the use of a party name or description in breach of rule 7(1) and (5) of the Senedd election rules
that the form is not subscribed as required by rule 6(8) of the Senedd election rules
that every candidate on the party list has ceased to stand nominated because they have died or withdrawn or they are not as required by law