How to complete the local election nomination form
Completing local election nomination papers is not complex but there are a few pitfalls to avoid. Every year we hear from people who have missed…
Using the party name, logo and the ballot paper
Using the party name on nomination papers NB The party has changed its logos and registered names from 11th March 2015 The new Lib Dem…
Delegated Nominating Officers
How does it all work? This law ensures only official Liberal Democrat candidates are allowed to call themselves Liberal Democrats (or one of our other…
Expenses Limits for By-Elections
Expenses limits Expenses for a Parliamentary by-election vary from those for General Elections and stand at £100,000. Expense limits for local government by-elections are the…
Other By-Elections
Other by-elections What follows is a brief summary. Details should be checked as needed. European Parliament The vacancy will be filled by the next available…
Parish and Community Council Vacancies
Parish and Community Council vacancies The rules are similar except that in order for the vacancy to be filled by a by-election, 10 electors from…
Terms of Office
Term of office Any person elected at a by-election will serve the remainder of the fixed term for the seat in which there was a…
The Six-Month Rule
The six-month rule If a vacancy occurs within six months of the date when that councillor’s term of office would have expired, there will be…
Local By-Elections – Filling Vacancies on Principal Councils
Most electoral law applies in the same way to by-elections as it does to the other elections at the same level of government Filling vacancies…
Parliamentary By-Elections
Most electoral law applies in the same way to by-elections as it does to the other elections at the same level of government Parliamentary by-elections…
Local Party Activities – Insurance
Insurance The party’s central insurance policy covers you for a range of items, including: Personal accidents, Thefts of money, and Public liability (the cost of…
Local Party Activities – After the Election
After the election Aside from submitting election expense returns, after the election the marked register, showing who voted, is available as is a marked register…
Local Party Activities – Fundraising During an Election
Fundraising during an election Ongoing and long-standing events With many ongoing fundraisers like 200 Clubs, it is preferable anyway, and sometimes mandatory, to have a…
Local Party Activities – Ceding Decision Making During an Election
Ceding decision making during an election It is wise to get the local party to pass a formal motion making it clear that during the…
Local Party Activities – Adopting the Candidate
Adopting the candidate A prospective candidate will usually have been selected some time ahead of the campaign. At the start of the campaign the membership…
Election Petitions
Election Petitions Bringing an election petition is the only way you can directly challenge the result of an election, once declared. These are very rare…
If the Opposition Commits an Electoral Offence
If the opposition commits an offence Don’t waste too much campaigning time during the election Don’t be deflected from your campaigning. An election campaign is…
If You May Have Committed an Offence
If you may have committed an offence It is possible to apply to the courts for relief, on grounds of relevant illness or inadvertence. A…
Corrupt and Illegal Practices – Electoral Offences
What are corrupt and illegal practices? Both ordinary law and election law lay down some practices that are offences. These are grounds for prosecution. If…
Postal Vote Opening
The postal vote opening sessions are sometimes called the “postal vote counts” but in reality they are just the equivalent of the verification stage one.…
The Count – Declaration
The declaration The result as declared by the Returning Officer is legally binding, and can only be challenged later by election petition. It’s a common…
The Count – Ballot Papers Retained but not Counted
Ballot papers retained but not counted Tendered ballot papers These papers, usually pink, are issued to electors who appear to have already voted when they…
Recounts
Recounts Bundle recounts and full recounts Agents and candidates will be informed by the Returning Officer of the result before the official declaration. At this…
The Count – Doubtful Ballot Papers
Doubtful ballot papers Valid or not? Judging whether a ballot paper is invalid or not can be a matter of degree, but there are three…
How the Count Works – Stage 2
How the count works The count takes place in two stages: Stage 2 – Sorting Once the verification has been completed, the ballot papers will…
How the Count Works – Stage 1
How the count works The count takes place in two stages: Stage 1 – The verification At this stage the ballot papers in each ballot…
Functions of the Counting Agents
Functions of the counting agents There are several important jobs to be performed that require concentration, good eyesight and knowledge of the rules and the…
Counts with multiple vacancies
Where there is more than one candidate to be elected most ballot papers will have more than one X, but not all! This needs a…
What if the result is not what I was expecting?
These are a few pointers for things to watch at the count, which have gone wrong before. Just about any conceivable mistake has happened at…
Postal Voting Opening and Agents
What does a postal voting agent do? A postal voting agent is allowed to attend and observe postal vote opening sessions, which are run by…
Who Can Attend the Count?
Who can attend the count? Attendance at the count is limited to the candidate, candidate’s spouse(or guest), agent and the counting agents. The number of…
Polling Day and Children
Children Parents can bring their children with them into the polling station when they go to vote.