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Parliamentary Election - 12 December 2019 Information for candidates and agents Chief Executive | Luton Council Parliamentary Election 12 December 2019 - Information for Candidates and Agents Table of contents – click to go to section Key dates .............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Notice of Election ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Supply of the register ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Important Information about Elector Numbers on Poll Cards and Polling Station Registers .......................... 4 Supply of the nomination pack ............................................................................................................................. 4 Nomination And Informal Checking process ........................................................................................................ 4 Delivery of nomination papers ......................................................................................................................... 5 Required nomination paperwork ..................................................................................................................... 5 Postal vote arrangements .................................................................................................................................... 6 Polling stations ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 Luton North ...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Luton South ....................................................................................................................................................10 Verification and count ........................................................................................................................................14 Attendance at verification and count .............................................................................................................14 Adjudication of doubtful ballot papers ..........................................................................................................14 Guidance on spending limits ..............................................................................................................................14 Imprints ..............................................................................................................................................................15 2 of 15 Parliamentary Election 12 December 2019 - Information for Candidates and Agents Key dates Date Item Wednesday 06 November 2019 Earliest date to officially become a candidate Earliest date to be supplied with a copy of the electoral register Friday 08 November 2019 Publication of the Notice of Election Monday 11 November 2019 First day for submission of nomination papers First day for informal checking of nomination papers Thursday 14 November 2019 Deadline for submission of nomination papers (4pm) Deadline for appointment of election agents (4pm) Last date for withdrawl of a candidate (4pm) Publication of statement of persons nominated (by 5pm) Publication of notice of poll and situation of polling stations (5pm) Tuesday 26 November 2019 Electoral registration deadline Postal vote/postal proxy application deadline (5pm) Wednesday 04 December Proxy vote application deadline (5pm) 2019 Thursday 05 December 2019 Deadline for appointment of counting agents Deadline for appointment of polling agents Thursday 12 December 2019 Polling day (7am – 10pm) Deadline for replacement of lost or spoilt postal votes (5pm) Deadline for emergency proxy applications (5pm) Deadline for alterations to register for clerical errors (9pm) Friday 17 January 2020 Deadline for return of election expenses forms 3 of 15 Parliamentary Election 12 December 2019 - Information for Candidates and Agents Notice of Election 1. The Notice of Election will be published on Friday 08 November 2019 on the council’s website and the Town Hall noticeboard. Supply of the register 1. As a candidate, you may wish to have access to the electoral register to assist you with the nomination process. This must be requested in writing. The register information will be supplied in data format, unless you specifically request a printed copy. If you subsequently decide not to stand as a candidate the register must be returned to the Electoral Services Manager. 2. The register that will be required for nominations is the one that is in force on the last day for the publication of the Notice of Election. This will be the 1 November 2019 register. 3. The register cannot be supplied to a candidate earlier than the dissolution of Parliament on Wednesday 6th November 2019. 4. Luton South Parliamentary Constituency includes four polling stations located in Caddington. Register information for those electors will be provided as soon after 6th November as practicably possible. PLEASE NOTE: Electors marked G and K on the register (European citizens) cannot be used as subscribers to a nomination form. Important Information about Elector Numbers on Poll Cards and Polling Station Registers 5. The elector numbers that appear on the register to be used for the nomination process, will be the elector numbers printed on poll cards. 6. However, on 1st December 2019 at the conclusion of the annual canvass, the Register will be re-published and elector numbers will change. 7. As a result, the elector numbers appearing on registers used in polling stations on election day, will not be the same as the elector numbers printed on poll cards. Supply of the nomination pack 8. A prepared, printed, nomination pack is available to any candidate upon request from the Electoral Services Manager. 9. Alternatively, you can download your own nomination pack from the Luton Council website. Nomination And Informal Checking process 10. Nominations will be accepted between 10 am until 4 pm from Monday 11 November 2019 until Thursday 14 November 2019. The deadline of 4pm on Thursday 14 November 2019 cannot be extended for any reason. Informal checks are strongly recommended. 4 of 15 Parliamentary Election 12 December 2019 - Information for Candidates and Agents 11. Please book an appointment for an informal check, by contacting Debbie Janes or Sam Freer by Telephone: 01582 546038 / 01584 546088 or by Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Delivery of nomination papers 12. It is strongly recommended that you deliver your nomination papers and deposit by hand. Papers should be delivered to: The Elections Office, Ground Floor, Luton Council Town Hall Luton LU1 2BQ 13. On arrival at the Town Hall reception, please call 01582 546090. 14. Only the Returning Officer (RO) or an appointed deputy can process your nomination papers. To ensure safe receipt please do not leave your nomination papers with anyone other than the RO or appointed deputies Debbie Janes or Sam Freer. Please do not leave your nomination papers at the Town Hall reception. 15. The nomination form, home address form and consent to nomination must be delivered by hand. Certificates of authorisation and emblem request forms can be submitted by hand or by post, but cannot be submitted electronically. It is recommended that all forms are hand delivered together in person. 16. Once a nomination paper has been formally delivered, no changes can subsequently be made to it. If a candidate or agent later decides that they wish to make changes to it (for example the description), the only way this could be done is by withdrawing the candidature and submitting new nomination papers. Please make use of the informal checking process to avoid potential mistakes. Required nomination paperwork 17. In order for a candidate to be validly nominated they must have submitted by 4 pm on Thursday 14 November 2019: nomination form home address form consent to nomination form *deposit of £500 the *deposit of £500 must be in cash or bankers draft (cleared funds) made payable to ‘Luton Borough Council’. 18. Candidates standing on behalf of a political party must also submit: certificate authorising you to use the party name or registered description on the ballot paper written request to use one of the party’s emblems (if you would like one to appear on the ballot paper) 19. The Electoral Commission Guidance for Candidates and Agents (parts 2a and 2b of Part 6) sets out all the requirements for standing as a candidate. Particular attention is drawn to the use of commonly used names and the use of party names, descriptions and emblems. 5 of 15 Parliamentary Election 12 December 2019 - Information for Candidates and Agents A copy of all of the guidance for candidates and agents can be provided upon request from the electoral services manager or can be viewed on the Electoral Commission website at www.electoralcommission.org.uk. 20. Note that any information you provide on your nomination papers must be true to the best of your knowledge. It is an offence to provide a false statement on your nomination papers. Providing a false statement could invalidate your election, and is