This article only outlines key points for electoral administration for candidates. The Electoral Commission have produced comprehensive advice for candidates in their document, Guidance for Candidates and Agents: The 2010 UK Parliamentary General Elections in Great Britian.

All independent candidates should contact their local electoral registration office as soon as possible regarding standing for Parliament. You can find the contact details of your local office on the About My Vote website.

Electoral Register

All candidates are entitled to a free copy of the Electoral Register which contains the details of all voters in the constituency. This is usually provided electronically. Candidates can obtain a copy by sending a written request to the local Election Registration Office.

You will need a copy of this document to check if the ten signatures for your nomination papers live in the constituency and are registered to vote.

Nomination papers

Nomination papers must be submitted no later than 4pm on the 20^th April. The papers must be submitted in person to the local election registration office by the candidate, agent, proposer or seconder. We highly recommend that you submit these documents before the closing date as this leaves room to correct errors.

Nomination papers can be obtained by contacting the Acting Returning Officer in the local Electoral Registration Officer.

Please be aware that you must use your full name on the nomination papers. You can also register a commonly used surname and first name to be displayed on the ballot paper as long as you use those names regularly.

Election Agents

Election agents are responsible for all financial aspects of a candidate’s election campaign. Every candidate must have an election agent, but you can be your own agent if you wish.

All candidates must declare their nomination of agents by the deadline for nominations (20^th April 2010). This must be a written declaration to the Acting Returning Officer of an agent including their home and office address. Template forms for election agents can be found on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Polling and Counting Agents

Candidates and Election Agents can appoint Polling and Counting Agents for polling day by writing to the local Returning Officer and providing the names and addresses of the proposed agents. The deadline for appointing Polling and Counting Agents is the close of the second working day before polling day.

Deposit

A £500 deposit is required for all parliamentary candidates and this must be paid by the deadline for nominations (20^th April 2010).

Payment is usually given in legal tender, but can be also made by debit/credit cards at the discretion of the Returning Officer.

Candidates who obtain more than 5 per cent of the votes cast will have their deposit returned.

Free Meeting Rooms

There are a number of school rooms that are available for candidates to use for open public meetings during elections. For more information contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

Newspapers

Please be aware that newspapers are under no obligation to include candidates in their coverage and are free to write whatever they feel appropriate.