Registration of Political Parties

Political Parties

Conditions of registration

Please refer to section 42 of the Elections (Keys and Local Authorities) Act 2020 prior to commencing the application process.

Please read below a concise version of some of the requirements.

The party must have a name that does not exceed 6 words
The name of the party, and any abbreviation of the name and any emblem of the party, must not be:
- offensive, obscene or otherwise inappropriate
- either identical to, or of sufficient similarity that it may be confused with, the name, abbreviation or emblem of any other organisation
The party must have three officeholders, being the leader (howeve described), treasurer and secretary
A person may hold two of those offices, but not all three
A person cannot hold any of those offices unless he or she is a registered person in accordance with the Registration of Electors Act 2020
The party must have an address in the Island to which communications intended for the party may be sent
The party must have a written constitution, one of the expressed objectives of which must be the support or endorsement of candidates for election to the Keys
The party must keep accounts
The party must have an accounting period that does not exceed 12 months

After initial registration the accounts must be delivered annually to the Central Registry.

Application for registration of a political party

An application for registration of a political party must be made to the Officer.

An application must contain:

the name of the party and the abbreviation (if any) of that name
the emblem (if any) of the party
the address in the Island for the purposes of section 43(6)
the full names of the leader, treasurer and secretary of the party

An application must be accompanied by:

a copy of the party’s constitution
a copy of the party’s most recent accounts
such fee, if any, as may be published by the Treasury as payable for the application

The application must be signed by no fewer than 20 persons.

A person may sign an application only if he or she is an eligible elector.

The Officer must file in the Central Registry a copy of any document received.

Changes in particulars of registered party

The Officer must be notified, in writing, of a change in any of the following within 30 working days:

the constitution of a registered political party
the identity of the person holding the office of leader, treasurer or secretary of a registered political party.

The change must be notified in writing and be signed by two persons who (after the change) are registered officeholders of the party; and accompanied by evidence that the decision to make the change was made in accordance with the party’s constitution and, in the case of notice of a change in the constitution of a registered political party, by a copy of the constitution as changed.

If, by reason of death or incapacity of one or more registered office holders or any other cause, it is not possible to comply with the request to notify the Officer, the Officer may:

accept an alternative means of verification of the notice
refer the matter to the Attorney General, in order for the Attorney General to advise on the matter

The Officer must enter in the register the particulars of any change notified

Tynwald procedure – approval required.

Inspection of Political party register

A person may inspect the register, upon payment of such fee as the Treasury may determine, at the Central Registry during its normal working hours. A person may, on payment of a fee obtain a copy of any document kept by the Electoral Registration Officer.

A person may, on payment of such fee as the Treasury may determine, obtain from the Central Registry a copy of any document kept by the Officer under section 45(3)(a) and (b) of the Act.

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