What is an imprint

An imprint is included on printed election material to show who is responsible for publishing the material.

An imprint must include the name and address of the person or organisation who has published the material. If they have published it on someone else’s behalf, the imprint also needs to include that person or organisation’s name and address.

Printed material must also include the name and address of the printer.

What printed material needs an imprint

All printed election material needs an imprint, including leaflets, newspaper adverts, and billboard advertising.

Election material is any material that can be reasonably regarded as intended to promote an outcome in an election. For example, promoting a candidate or a political party.

Reporting a missing imprint on printed material

Who is responsible for enforcing the law on imprints on printed material

Responsibility for ensuring that printed material has an imprint is split between us and the police, depending on the type of material.

  • We are responsible for any material relating to political parties or if the material is about a political issue.
  • The police are responsible for any material relating to a particular candidate or for recall petitions.

We don’t regulate the content of any material. You should contact the political party, candidate or non-party campaigner who published the material if you have any concerns about its content or would like to make a complaint.

What you need to report a missing imprint

To report a missing print imprint, you will need:

  • information about who published the material
  • details about the material, including what the material is about and when you first saw the material
  • clear photos or scans of all of the material

Report a missing imprint

Fill in our form if you have seen printed material without an imprint that you think should include one and is a type of printed material we regulate.

Report a missing imprint

You can contact your local police if printed material is missing an imprint but is a type of printed material regulated by the police.

We support campaigners to comply with the law around imprints by providing advice and guidance, including for material that we do not regulate.

If you are a campaigner, you can find out more about imprints in our guidance.

Read our guidance on imprints