Party descriptions on ballot papers

A party description is an optional identity mark that you can register in addition to the party name which can appear on a ballot paper. A party is permitted to register up to 12 descriptions at any one time. 

On most ballot papers, a party description can be used as an alternative to a party name. The description must therefore identify your party to a voter, in case it is used on a ballot paper rather than the party name. For example, a way to do that may be to include the party name in the description.

If in the Commission’s opinion a voter cannot identify the party from the description, it is not a description under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA) and cannot be registered. 

A description cannot be exactly the same as the party name.

Last updated: 24 November 2022