Parliamentary General, District and Parish/Town Council Elections 7 th May 2015 Prospective Candidates and Agents Pre Nomination Briefing 10 th, 11 th and 13 th March 2015

Topics Key Staff Timetable – Key Dates Qualifications/Disqualifications Nomination Forms Commonly Used Names Submitting Nomination Papers Certificate of Authorisation Emblem Request Form Joint Candidates Withdrawals Election Agents Registration/Absent Voting Contacts Questions

Key Staff (Acting) Returning Officer/Returning OfficerJoanne Roney OBE Deputy (Acting) Returning Officer/Deputy Returning Officer Sandra Hardy Deputy (Acting) Returning Officer/Deputy Returning Officer Bernadette Livesey Electoral Services OfficersJacqui Milnes Siobhan Atkinson Electoral Services Team LeaderAndrew Raven Electoral Services Support Assistants Chris Cooke Sarah Nestor Support Assistants/Receptionists Julie Clift Jannine Earnshaw

Timetable – Key Dates ParliamentaryDistrict/Parish/Town Publish Notice of Election1 st April30 th March Nominations commence10:00am 2 nd April30 th March Close of nominations and appointment of election agents 4:00pm 9 th April Deadline for Withdrawal of Nomination Paper 4:00pm 9 th April Publish Statement of Persons Nominated and list of Election Agents 5:00pm 9 th April4:00pm 10 th April Publish Notice of Poll5:00pm 9 th April28 th April Polling day7 th May – 7:00am to 10:00pm Verification and CountStart 10:00pm – 7 th May Return of election expenses12 th June12 th June/4 th June

Timetable – Key Dates Deadline for applications to register to vote20 th April Deadline for new postal vote applications /changes to existing postal or proxy vote applications 5:00pm – 21 st April Deadline for applications for new proxy votes5:00pm – 28 th April First date that electors can apply for replacement for lost postal votes 30 th April Deadline to apply for new applications to vote by proxy on grounds of medical/work emergency 5:00pm – polling day Deadline for replacement for lost/spoilt postal votes 5:00pm – polling day Deadline for alterations to register to correct clerical error(s) 9:00pm – polling day

Qualifications - Parliamentary Candidates must satisfy the qualification criteria on the day they are nominated and on polling day: - be at least 18 years old - either be a British citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a qualifying Commonwealth citizen There is no requirement to be a registered elector in the UK

Qualifications – District, Parish and Town Candidates must satisfy criteria on the day they are nominated and on polling day: –at least 18 years of age –British, qualifying Commonwealth citizen (with indefinite leave to remain), national of an EU member state. Also at least one of the following: –Registered local government elector for local authority area –Occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the local authority area during the whole 12 months preceding nomination –Principal or only place of work (including unpaid) during last 12 months in local authority area –Lived in the local authority area during the last 12 months –Parish/Town - Lived in the parish or within 3 miles of it during the last 12 months

Disqualifications - Parliamentary Certain people are disqualified from becoming an MP, such as: - civil servants - members of police forces - members of the armed forces - government-nominated directors of commercial companies - judges - members of a foreign legislature (outside the Commonwealth) - peers who sit and vote in the House of Lords - those who are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order or debt relief restrictions order (but not those who are simply bankrupt) in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; or those whose estate has been sequestrated in Scotland and have not been discharged

Disqualifications – District A person cannot be a candidate if they: –are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees). Candidates may be ‘employed by the local authority’ if they work at certain schools, fire services, police or health services –are subject of a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (or interim order) in England or Wales –have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) without option of a fine, during the 5 years before polling day –have been disqualified under Audit Commission Act 1998 –are serving a disqualification due to being found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court –hold a politically restricted post

Disqualifications – Parish and Town A person cannot be a candidate if they: -are employed by the Parish/Town Council or hold a paid office under the Parish/Town Council (including joint boards or committees). This would be the case if an appointment has to be confirmed by the Parish/Town Council or a representative of the Council - are subject of a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order (or interim order) in England or Wales - have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) without option of a fine, during the 5 years before polling day - have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act are serving a disqualification due to being found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court

Nomination Form - Parliamentary Include your full name Optional: complete commonly used name box(es) if commonly known by a name other than full name and wish to use it instead Description field – 3 options: leave blank Independent party candidates can use party name or description authorised by a certificate issued by or on behalf of the Nominating Officer Proposer, Seconder and 8 other Subscribers from the constituency are required Must sign and print their names. Check details of subscribers against electoral register that is valid on 1 April If they are not on that register, they can’t subscribe your nomination. Elector number must be included on the nomination paper Only ask subscribers to sign after completing the name and description fields on the form

Home Address Form - Parliamentary Must state home address in full Must state if you do not want your address to be made public and to appear on the ballot paper. If so: - give the name of the constituency in which your home address is situated or, - if you live outside the UK, the name of the country in which you reside

Consent to Nomination Form - Parliamentary Must include: Statement you are qualified and not disqualified from standing Your date of birth Name, address and signature of witness Statement you are not a candidate in another constituency

Nomination Form - District, Parish and Town Include your full name & home address Optional: use commonly used name box(es) if commonly known by a name other than full name and wish to use it instead Description field – 3 options: leave blank Independent party candidates can use party name or description authorised by a certificate issued by or on behalf of the Nominating Officer Parish/Town only – description of no more than 6 words District: Proposer, Seconder and 8 other Subscribers are required Parish: Proposer and Seconder required only Must sign & print their names. Check details of subscribers against electoral register and include their elector number on the nomination paper Only ask subscribers to sign after completing the name, address and description fields on the form

Consent to Nomination Form - District, Parish and Town Must include: –name and address –which area standing in –confirmation of qualification(s) that apply (at least 1, but select all that apply) –date of birth & signature –witness’ name, address and signature

Commonly Used Names SurnameForename(s)Commonly used Surname Commonly used Forename(s) Ballot Paper MillerAndrew JohnAndyMILLER Andy MillerAndrew JohnJohnMILLER John MillerAndrew JohnVoterAndyVOTER Andy MillerAndrew JohnSuperstarNone to be Used SUPERSTAR

Certificate of Authorisation Party candidates must have written permission to use the party name/description from the Nominating Officer (or a person appointed to act on their behalf) The certificate may: allow the use of the party name or a description allow the candidate to choose whether to use the party name or any of the descriptions registered with the Electoral Commission Must be submitted with the other nomination papers by 4pm on 9 April

Emblem Request Form Party candidates can ask for an emblem to be printed on the ballot paper Emblem request form must be submitted by 4pm on 9 April Party candidates should supply an electronic version of the emblem to the (Acting) Returning Officer if required

Submitting Nomination Papers - Parliamentary All candidates must submit by 4pm on 9 April: - their nomination form - their home address form - their consent to nomination Party candidates will also need to submit by that time: - a certificate authorising the use of a party name/registered description on the ballot paper - a written request to use one of the party’s emblems on the ballot paper The nomination form, consent to nomination form and home address form must be delivered by hand and cannot be submitted by post, fax or other electronic means

Submitting Nomination Papers - Parliamentary Take care when completing your nomination papers as mistakes may invalidate your nomination! Complete your nomination papers early and arrange for us to provide an informal check The nomination and home address form may only be delivered by: –you –your proposer or seconder, or –by your election agent (if the (Acting) Returning Officer has previously received notification of their appointment) £500 deposit - cash or bankers draft made payable to ‘National Referendum 2001’ If you have formally submitted your nomination paper and it is invalid you will not be permitted to use the same Proposer, Seconder and Subscribers

Submitting Nomination Papers - District, Parish and Town The nomination papers must be submitted by all candidates by 4pm – 9 th April –the nomination form –the consent to nomination Party candidates will also need to submit, by 4pm – 9 th April: –A certificate authorising the use of a party name/ registered description on the ballot paper –A written request to use one of the party’s emblems on the ballot paper (optional)

Submitting Nomination Papers - District, Parish and Town Take care when completing your nomination papers, as mistakes may invalidate your nomination. Complete nomination papers early and arrange for us to provide an informal check Nomination papers must be delivered in person Any nomination papers sent through the post will not be accepted If you have formally submitted your nomination paper and it is invalid you will not be permitted to use the same Proposer, Seconder and Subscribers

Joint Candidates Nominated by more than one party May use registered joint descriptions must be supported by certificate of authorisation from each party May use one emblem of one of the parties but there are no joint emblems

Withdrawals You may withdraw your candidature at any time during the nomination period The deadline for withdrawals is 4:00pm on Thursday 9 th April 2015 The (Acting) Returning Officer must be notified in writing; the notice must be signed by the candidate and a witness The withdrawal notice must be delivered by hand If you have submitted nomination papers for more than one ward, you must withdraw from all but one before the withdrawal deadline

Election Agents Your Election Agent is responsible for the proper management of your election campaign; particularly its financial management You must submit your Election Agent details before 4:00pm on Thursday 9 th April 2015; details required: –Full name –Address –Office Address The declaration must be signed by you and by the agent The Election Agent may not resign but the Candidate may revoke the appointment at any time; the (Acting) Returning Officer must be notified in writing You will become your own agent by default if none is appointed Parish/Town Council candidates do not have Election Agents

Registration As a candidate you are uniquely placed to encourage people to register to vote You should encourage people to register as soon as possible The deadline for applying for the election is 20 April 2015 Registration has changed from a household to an individual system Individuals can now also register online at vote When discussing registering to vote with individuals, you will need to make them aware that they will need: –their National Insurance number, –date of birth and address to register People who do not have / cannot retrieve their National Insurance Number can still register, but they may need to provide further information. If so, they will be contacted by the ERO

Absent Voting If you are encouraging people who don’t have a postal (or proxy) vote to apply for one, make sure you explain that they will only qualify for one if they are (or will be) individually registered They will be registered individually if: –they applied to register after 10 th June 2014, or –were transferred onto the new registers as their details could be matched with official records. They would have received confirmation of this transfer in August 2014 All requests for postal vote applications should be forwarded to the Electoral Services Office

Electoral Services Office E mail: Helpline: Website: Electoral Commission Website: Electoral Commission Office: Party and Election Finance: Contacts

Parliamentary General, District and Parish/Town Council Elections 7 th May 2015 ANY QUESTIONS?