Candidates and agents Briefing

1. Candidates and agents Briefing Local government elections

2. Topics • Who’s who • Election timetable • Qualifications • Disqualifications • Nominations • Agents • Postal votes • Day of poll • Single Transferable Vote • Counting of votes • Campaign spending • Contacts

3. Who’s who • The Returning Officer is the person responsible for running the election. The Returning Officer is [insert name]. • The Electoral Registration Officer is responsible for maintaining the register of electors and absent voters’ lists. The Electoral Registration Officer is [insert name]. • Contact details will be given at the end

4. Election Timetable

5. Election timetable (cont’d)

6. Getting nominated

7. Qualifications • Candidates must satisfy criteria on day they are nominated: • At least 18 years of age • British, qualifying Commonwealth (with indefinite leave to remain), EU member state citizen • 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 local authority area during the last 12 months.

8. Disqualifications • A person cannot be a candidate if they: • received a severance payment under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 • hold a politically restricted post • have had their estate sequestrated by a court in Scotland, been adjudged bankrupt by a court elsewhere, or are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or undertaking (unless recalled, reduced or discharged, see Electoral Commission guidance) • they have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (inc. suspended sentence) without option of a fine, during the 5 years before polling day • have been disqualified by a decision of the Accounts Commission or the Standards Commission • Are serving a disqualification due to being found guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court

9. Submitting nomination papers • Nomination forms must be submitted by all candidates by 4pm - [E-23] • Party candidates will also need to submit, by 4pm – [E-23]: • 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)

10. Submitting nomination papers • ! Make sure the nomination papers are filled in correctly, as mistakes may invalidate your nomination. • To arrange an informal check, contact the elections office (details provided later)

11. Nomination form • 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 registered description authorised by a certificate issued by or on behalf of the Nominating Officer

12. Nomination form • Must also include: • which ward you are standing in • confirmation of qualification(s) that apply (at least 1, but complete all that apply) • candidate’s signature • witness’ name, address and signature

13. 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 particular description • allow candidate to choose whether to use the party name or any of the descriptions registered with the Electoral Commission • Must be submitted by 4pm – [E-23]

14. 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 [E-23] • Party candidates should supply an electronic version of the emblem to the Returning Officer if required

15. 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

16. Campaigning

17. Election agent • Responsible for the proper management of your election campaign; particularly its financial management. • Notification of appointment must reach the Returning Officer by 4pm - [E-23]. Form is included in nomination pack. • You will become your own agent by default if none is appointed.

18. Other agents • Other agents can be appointed to attend postal vote openings, polling stations and the count on your behalf: • The RO requires notice in writing of any people appointed as polling and counting agents by [E-5]. • The appointment of postal voting agents attending a particular opening session must be made before the start of the session. The RO will give 48 hours’ notice. • Forms are available for notifying the RO.

19. Access to electoral register/absent voting lists • Access by candidates – once you officially become a candidate: • earliest, on [date of publication of notice of election] if you, or others declared yourself a candidate; or • once you or others have declared yourself a candidate after this date or date you submit your nomination papers, whichever is earliest • Make written request to the ERO – forms are available from the office / are included in your nomination pack.

20. Access to electoral register / absent voting lists • Only use data for permitted purposesincluding to help you campaign

21. Campaigning • Use imprints on all your campaign material, including websites. • Comply with planning rules relating to advertising hoardings and large banners. • Make sure outdoor posters are removed 2 weeks after the election. • Do not produce material that looks like a poll card. • Do not pay people to display your adverts (unless they display adverts as part of their normal business).

22. Postal votes and polling day

23. Postal votes • Code of conduct – no candidate or supporter should put themselves in a position where their honesty or integrity, or that of the candidate or party, can be questioned • For security reasons, absent voters are required to provide signature and date of birth on applications • these are stored electronically and checked against the postal voting statement returned with the postal vote • It is important that any received applications are returned to the electoral registration office or postal vote packs are returned to the elections office as soon as possible to ensure adequate time for processing • If you are considering printing your own application forms, they must contain all the legislative requirements

24. Postal votes (cont.) • Postal vote openings • [insert venue, date and times of openings] • Each candidate may appoint [x] agents to observe the opening of postal votes • Appointments must be delivered before the opening session is due to begin

25. Polling day • Polling stations open from 7am to 10pm • Office open [x]am to [x]pm for queries or problems relating to the administration of the election • any queries relating to election spending issues, contact the Electoral Commission (contact details shown later) • Tellers • Postal votes – can be handed into polling stations within the council area or delivered to the elections office until 10pm.

26. Voting and counting

27. Single Transferable Vote (STV) • Voters will rank candidates in their order of preference using numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc). • Voters can rank as many or as few candidates as they wish. • The same number cannot be used twice and there should not be a break in the sequence.

28. Ballot papers

29. The Count • [insert local arrangements for the counting of local government election votes: when, where etc.] • Count centre will open to candidates, agents and observers from [x] • The count will be held in: • [insert count centre location/address] • Candidates, election agents, counting agents and one other person appointed by the candidate are entitled to attend. - limits to number of counting agents: [X]

30. The count • Ballot papers will be counted electronically • [Give a brief overview of the count process, including the procedure for recounts] • [Give details of any demonstration sessions] • [Give details of what will be available at the count to help them follow the process e.g. count liaison officers, booklets, flowcharts, etc.]

31. STV • Weighted Inclusive Gregory method of counting • The quota • The count procedure • Transfer of surpluses and transfer values • Exclusion of candidates

32. Single Transferable Vote (STV)

34. Transfer values – surplus

35. Transfer values – exclusion • Votes transferred from excluded candidates usually have a value of 1 • If the vote was transferred to the excluded candidate at a value of less than 1, further transfers will be at that smaller value

36. Count the first preferences for each candidate The count process Quota reached by any candidate? Yes No Have enough candidates been elected? Eliminate candidate with lowest vote and redistribute next available preferences Transfer surplus to next available preferences Declare results No Yes

37. Anytown & District 3 member ward Quota = 1382

38. Spending issues

39. Candidates’ spending • Defined as certain expenditure ‘used for the purposes of the candidate’s election’ after the date they become a candidate • Responsibility of election agent • Spending limits [caveat]: • £705 + 6 pence per elector in ward on register in force on [insert date of last day for publishing notice of election] • reduced for joint candidates • Must get and keep receipts (over £20)

40. Campaign spending returns • Returns due 35 days after result of election • Returns made public by Returning Officer • Failure to submit a campaign spending return is an offence • Successful candidates who fail to submit returns may not sit or vote in the council

41. Contacts

42. Contacts • Elections office – [insert] • Electoral registration office– [insert] • Highways department – [insert] • Electoral Commission • Scotland Office - 0131 225 0200

43. Questions

44. Thank you Please ensure you take your candidate’s pack for guidance