If you are a candidate or a future candidate, you must include an imprint on any material that meets the criteria set out in the previous sections.
For example, although this is not an exhaustive list, both for paid adverts and for organic material, an imprint will be required on any material that:
promotes your candidacy
criticises another candidate
promotes your political party (if you have one) in the election
criticises another political party in the election
Becoming a future candidate
You become a future candidate when you announce your intention to stand in the next election, or someone else announces it on your behalf. For example, your party may have issued a press release when you were selected, or you might have mentioned your intention at a residents’ meeting.
This means that it is possible to be a future candidate for a long time before the election. As soon as your intention to stand is declared, you are a future candidate, and therefore you are a relevant entity who will be required to include imprints on organic material if it is election material, referendum material or recall petition material.
You will stop being a future candidate if you withdraw your declaration of intention to stand, or when you become a candidate.
If you are a future candidate, you will become a candidate on the last date for publication of notice of election, or for parliamentary general elections, on the date Parliament is dissolved.
Even before you are a candidate or future candidate, you will still need to include an imprint on a digital paid advert if it is political material.