Forthcoming Elections

Candidates and Agents

 

Standing for Election

If you are looking to stand as a candidate at a future election, you can visit the Electoral Commission's website for guidance and resources to help you comply with the rules, including

  • qualifications and disqualifications 
  • completing nomination forms
  • data protection
  • spending and donations
  • campaigning
  • reporting election costs 

 

Forthcoming by-elections

If you would like to be notified of forthcoming By-Elections, please complete the form here

 

Rooms for use by candidates during the pre-election period

During the pre-election period, candidates standing in parliamentary or local government elections are legally entitled to use certain publicly funded rooms free of charge to promote their campaign. This includes school rooms and public meeting rooms within the candidate’s constituency or electoral area, or nearby if none are available. Public meeting rooms must be mainly funded by public money.

The period during which rooms may be used depends on the type of election.
For Parliamentary elections, this runs from the day after Parliament is dissolved (or the issue of the writ in the case of a by‑election) until the day before polling day.
For local elections, rooms may be used from the last date the Notice of Election can be published until the day before polling day.

Candidates must give reasonable notice before using a room and must not disrupt school hours or any existing bookings or scheduled activities. While the use of the room itself is free, candidates are responsible for any costs incurred, including heating, lighting, cleaning, room preparation and the repair of any damage caused.

Candidates need to contact the premises direct to check if they have a room that they commonly let out for public use. Any charges are a matter between the candidate or party and the venue and must be agreed directly with them. The Returning Officer is not involved in these arrangements.

View a list of libraries which may have suitable meeting rooms (pdf, 85kb)
View a list of schools in the Test Valley area which may have suitable rooms (pdf, 124kb)

 

For more information, please contact Electoral Services.