Political Candidates
For a full picture of candidates requirements please refer to Division 5 of Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020.
Please read below a concise version of some of the requirements.
Donations received
A candidate must, not later than five working days before polling day, deliver to the Officer a written declaration containing the following information:
- a statement by the candidate of the sum or relevant donations received by him or her (as a candidate or a prospective candidate) during the relevant period together with the donor’s name (whether individual or corporate), the amount or value of the relevant donation, and whether the relevant donation is of:
- money
- a loan of money
- goods or the use of goods
- services
- a statement by the candidate that no such donations were received by him or her (as a candidate or a prospective candidate) during that period
For anonymous donations the information required is:
- a statement by the candidate which identifies each anonymous donation received by him or her (as a candidate or a prospective candidate), during that period, together with its amount and that has been complied with in respect of every such donation
- a statement by the candidate that no such donations were received by him or her (as a candidate or a prospective candidate) during that period
A donation is 'relevant' if it is of or more than, or has a value more than, the minimum amount which is £50, (and is not anonymous).
Except where the donor is anonymous, donations made by each person, including any connected person, must be aggregated for the purposes of determining whether they are of, or have a value of more, than the minimum amount.
A candidate or prospective candidate must not keep an anonymous donation.
A candidate or prospective candidate who receives an anonymous donation must, within 10 working days of becoming aware of the donation or 30 days of receiving it (whichever comes sooner), send it to the Chief Financial Officer who must make arrangements for its distribution to the nominated charitable trust.
Note: please read Schedule 2 of the Act as to what constitutes a donation.
Election expenses
A candidate’s total election expenses incurred during the relevant period (as a candidate and (if appropriate) as a prospective candidate) must not exceed the maximum amount of £2,150 plus 54 pence for each eligible elector on the relevant register for the constituency in which the candidate is standing, or stood, for election; and 'relevant register' means the register most recently prepared prior to six weeks before polling day.
If the Officer receives, within three months of an election, a complaint alleging that a candidate’s election expenses have exceeded the maximum amount, the Officer must give notice to the candidate as soon as reasonably practicable.
The notice must require the candidate to deliver to the Officer within 15 working days a written declaration of his or her election expenses itemising the amounts expended (whether direct or notional) and the goods and services to which those amounts relate.
Note: please read Schedule 2 of the Act as to what constitutes an expense.
Candidate’s declarations
The declarations must be made using a form supplied by the Officer and must include a statement that, to the best of the candidate’s knowledge, information and belief, the information contained in it is true, complete and correct, and it must be signed by the candidate.
If, having made a declaration, a candidate becomes aware of any variation in or addition to the information required to be declared, the candidate must, as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than 10 working days after becoming so aware, deliver to the Officer a further written declaration of the variation or addition.
All candidates in the election, regardless of whether or not they have been successful, must submit a declaration of expenses.
A declaration of expenses must be made no earlier than 10 days before election day. A subsequent such declaration must be submitted within 35 days after the election. The declaration of expenses must be made available for public inspection.
The period covered by the declaration of expenses commences one year before the scheduled date of the election in question.
If the Officer receives a complaint in writing, the Officer may require the candidate who is the subject of the complaint, within 15 working days, to produce invoices, receipts and other proof of the candidate’s election expenses.
Every candidate for an election who makes, directly or indirectly, any financial donation to a person resident in the constituency, district or ward (as the case may be) in which the candidate has offered himself or herself for election must declare that donation in writing.
Political Candidates Register
The Officer must record the details of every declaration in a register and file a copy of every such declaration in the Central Registry.
The register and every filed document are available for inspection by the general public, on payment of such fee as the Treasury may determine, at the Central Registry, during its normal working hours.
Contact details
Head Office
FAO Electoral Registration Officer
Third Floor
Government Office
Bucks Road
Douglas
IM1 3PN
Telephone: +44 1624 685741
Email: elections@gov.im
