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accesskey="4">Skip to site search</a></li> </ul> <div id="main"> <div id="content-frame"> <div id="page-content"> <h1>Candidates and agents</h1> <div id="content"> <div id="content_div_29580"> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/cymru/primary-navigation/guidance/adnoddau-ir-rheiny-yr-ydym-yn-eu-rheoleiddio/ymgeiswyr-ac-asiantau">Read in Welsh/ Darllenwch y Gymraeg</a></p> <h2>Overview</h2> <p>You can access all our guidance for candidates and their agents on standing for election through this page. This includes information to help candidates and agents comply with the rules on campaign spending and donations. </p> <p>Between elections, there are rules on donations to individuals for political purposes. If you are a prospective candidate and you belong to a registered party please also see our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/those-we-regulate/individuals">page for regulated individuals</a>. </p> <p><strong>Looking for background information?</strong></p> <p>See the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/elections">Elections section of the website</a>. </p> <p> <p></p> <p> <table style="WIDTH: 100%" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/image/0007/99781/Latest-updates.gif"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(0,0,0) 0px solid; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(0,0,0) 0px solid; BORDER-TOP: rgb(0,0,0) 0px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(0,0,0) 0px solid" alt="Latest updates" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850im_/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/image/0007/99781/Latest-updates.gif" width="550" height="29"></a></p> <h3>02 March 2012: Guidance for mayoral elections in England on 3 May 2012</h3> <p>We have published our guidance on <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/mayoral-elections-in-England">standing as a candidate at mayoral elections in England</a>. </p> <h3>30 January 2012: Updates to spending limits in Scotland </h3> <p>Visit our guidance page for <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-scotland">local council elections in Scotland</a> for full details.</p> <h3>17 January 2012: Guidance for scheduled elections on 3 May 2012</h3> <p>We published our guidance for elections on 3 May 2012 at the end of December. See our guidance pages for</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/greater-london-authority-elections">Greater London Authority elections in May 2012 </a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-england-and-wales">Local elections in England and Wales 2012</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-scotland">Local council elections in Scotland 2012</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/parish-community-elections-england-wales">Parish and community elections in England and Wales 2012</a></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table></p> <p></p> <p></p> <h2>Our guidance and forms</h2> <h3><span><span><span>Greater London Authority elections</span></span></span></h3> <ul> <li><span><span><span><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/greater-london-authority-elections"><span><span><span>Guidance for candidates and agents at the Greater London Authority elections 2012</span></span></span></a> </span></span></span></li></ul> <h3><span><span><span>Local government elections</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-england-and-wales">Local government elections in England and Wales 2012</a> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-scotland">Local council elections in Scotland 2012</a> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/northern-ireland">Guidance for candidates and agents in Northern Ireland</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/parish-community-elections-england-wales">Parish and community elections in England and Wales 2012</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/mayoral-elections-in-England">Mayoral elections in England 2012</a></li></ul> <h3>UK Parliamentary by-elections </h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/uk-parliamentary-by-elections">Guidance for UK Parliamentary by-elections</a> </li></ul> <h3>UK general election</h3><span><span> <p>We regulate candidate spending during the regulated period of a UK general election and provide forms and guidance when required. </p> <p>The regulated period for candidates at the 2010 UK general election ran from 1 January 2010 to 6 May 2010. The deadline for reporting expenditure and donations has passed. </p> <h3>European Parliamentary elections</h3> <p></span></span>We regulate candidate spending for non-party candidates during the regulated period of European Parliamentary elections and provide forms and guidance when required.</p> <p>The regulated period for the 2009 European Parliamentary elections ran from 5 February 2009 to 4 June 2009. The deadline for reporting expenditure and donations has passed. </p> <h3>Scottish Parliamentary elections</h3> <p>We regulate candidate spending during the regulated period of elections to the Scottish Parliament and we provide forms and guidance when required.</p> <p>The regulated period for candidates at the 2011 elections ran from 6 January 2011 to 5 May 2011. The deadline for reporting expenditure and donations has passed.</p> <p>For archived guidance see: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/standing-for-Scottish-Parliamentary-elections">Standing for Scottish Parliamentary elections</a> </p> <h3>National Assembly for Wales elections</h3> <p>We regulate candidate spending during the regulated period of elections to the National Assembly for Wales and we provide forms and guidance when required.</p> <p>The regulated period for candidates at the 2011 elections ran from 25 March 2011 to 5 May 2011. The deadline for reporting expenditure and donations has passed.</p> <p>For archived guidance see: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/standing-for-National-Assembly-for-Wales-elections">Standing for National Assembly for Wales elections</a> </p> <h3>Northern Ireland Assembly elections </h3> <p>We regulate candidate spending during the regulated period of elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly and we provide forms and guidance when required.</p> <p>The regulated period for candidates at the 2011 elections ran from 25 March 2011 to 5 May 2011. The deadline for reporting expenditure and donations has passed. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p></span></span></span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="page-navigation"> <h2 class="accessibility">Secondary Navigation</h2> <ul> <li class="normal"> <a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-electoral-administrators">Resources for electoral administrators</a> </li> <li class="open"> <a class="open" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate">Resources for those we regulate</a> <ul> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/parties">Parties and party officers</a> </li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/register-a-new-party">Register a new party</a> </li> <li class="selected"><a class="selected" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents">Candidates and agents</a> <ul> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-england-and-wales">Local elections in England and Wales</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/local-elections-in-scotland">Local council elections in Scotland</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/greater-london-authority-elections">Greater London Authority elections</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/parish-community-elections-england-wales">Parish and community elections in England and Wales</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/mayoral-elections-in-England">Mayoral elections in England</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/police-and-crime-commissioner-elections">Police and Crime Commissioner elections</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/northern-ireland">Local government elections in Northern Ireland</a></li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents/uk-parliamentary-by-elections">UK Parliamentary by-elections</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/non-party-campaigners">Non-party campaigners</a> </li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/campaigners-in-referendums">Campaigners in referendums</a> </li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/individuals">Other individuals</a> </li> <li class="normal"><a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/organisations">Other organisations</a> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="normal"> <a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/voters">Voters</a> </li> <li class="normal"> <a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/Police-and-prosecuting-authorities">Police and prosecuting authorities</a> </li> <li class="normal"> <a class="normal" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/do-politics">Do Politics Centre</a> </li> </ul> <div id="action-nav" class="section-29578"> <h2>I am</h2> <ul> <li id="a-100344"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-electoral-administrators">An electoral administrator</a></li> <li id="a-29578"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate/candidates-and-agents">A candidate or agent</a></li> <li id="a-84324"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120307180850/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance/resources-for-those-we-regulate">A party or campaigner</a></li> <li id="a-29852"><a 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