For those with local elections in England, a reminder that the regulated period starts at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday 31 March 2026.
That is to say 11:59 on Monday 30 March is the last point at which you can spend on the elections without having to declare this as an election expense.
All spending on the election campaign must be recorded from this point (00:01 on Tuesday 31 March) until polling day on 7 May – and submitted as election expenses after the election.
Monday 30 March is the earliest point at which anyone can become a candidate. Technically, if you have not announced your intention to stand in any way, your expense period can begin when you submit your nomination papers. However ALDC always advises that you should begin to record election expenses from the earliest point, which is midnight after Monday 30 March (or 00:01 on Tuesday 31 March). This is much simpler and does not leave you open to legal challenges.
ALDC’s Election Expenses Toolkit will help you record your expenses and runs through how to complete your expense forms after the election. Our Local Election Agent Toolkit also contains important advice and resources for this.
says
Victor. Since the Polititical Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, local election candidate expense cannot start until the day after the last date for the publication of notice of election. This year, the last date for publication this year is 30 March, so your candidate expenses do not start until Tuesday 31 March.
Victor Scrivens says
What if my candidate has announced publicly her standing before the 30th March.? Do her expenses start from that date?