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Candidates, parties and campaigners use different tactics in the run-up to an election to try and influence how you vote.

You can find answers to commonly asked questions about the campaigning tactics used at elections, including how candidates, parties and campaigners design or present campaign material.

Parties encouraging or handling postal votes

Parties are not breaking any rules if they encourage voters to apply to vote by post, including by issuing postal vote application forms. Read more about how parties and campaigners can encourage postal voting. 

The Elections Act 2022 introduced a ban and a new criminal offence on campaigners handling another voter’s postal ballot, except where the postal vote is that of a close family member or belongs to someone they provide regular care for. Find out more about handling postal votes.

Websites promoting tactical voting

There is no law against websites promoting tactical voting. 

There are limits in law on the amount that can be spent campaigning for or against a political party at elections in the UK, including on tactical voting sites. 

The costs of this kind of activity may need to be reported after an election. Read more about election spending and our role.

Campaign literature arriving at the same time as postal votes or ballot papers

Parties can check with councils to find out when postal votes are being sent out and try to send out their campaign material at a similar time. There are no rules against this.

Leaflets being delivered at certain times

There aren’t any rules about the time of day that campaign material can be delivered. If you’re concerned about the conduct of the party, you should contact them directly.

Design of campaign material

While we encourage transparency in campaigning techniques and material, the design of material does not fall under the remit of any regulators. 

If you have concerns about the design of campaign material, you could contact the party, organisation or individual responsible to share your views.

Political parties or candidates not using the party's name, logo or colours in their campaign material

There is nothing in law that requires a party logo to be included in campaign material. There is also no requirement in law to specify what colours or branding a party or candidate needs to use in their material.

Campaign materials that look like a newspaper

Campaign material must not look like a poll card and must contain an imprint. There is nothing additional in law that specifies how campaign material should or should not be designed.

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