staffordshire police area returning officer · 2017-11-07 · staffordshire police area returning...

1Staffordshire Police Area Returning OfficerRFT – C & A Briefing 2 – 22‐03‐16

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Staffordshire Police Area Returning Officer

Police and Crime Commissioner Elections Thursday 5th May 2016

Candidates and Agents Presentation 2 Nominations


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Mobile Phones

Please turn your mobile phones off or to silent.

There are no Fire Drills planned today


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Introductions

Police Area Returning Officer (PARO)

Fiona Ledden

Support Officer &Deputy Police Area Returning (DPARO)

Ross Thompson

PARO Admin Support

Stephanie Reen


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Who does what at PCC Election

• Home Office ‐ The lead government department for the PCC elections

• Cabinet Office – The lead government department for the administration of the PCC elections

• Police Area Returning Officer (PARO)‐ Overall responsibility for the conduct of the PCC election in Staffordshire Police Area

• Local Returning Officer (LRO) ‐ responsibility for the conduct of the PCC election in each local authority area


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Who does what at PCC Election

• Electoral Commission (EC) – supporting Candidates and Agents at the PCC election to produce guidance for them and any other organisations affected by the rules of the poll. They also regulate the rules on candidates spending and donation received.

• Police ‐ The police have no role in the conduct of the election other its normal public order role and the investigation of breaches of electoral law.

• The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner –The office has no direct role in the process of the administration of the election in the force area.


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Context• 6/7 Candidates expected?

• 9 Districts within the Force Area

• Coterminous with County Boundary

• Local Verification at each District

• Local Count at each District

• Supplementary Vote electoral system

• 1st and 2nd Count unless a candidate polls more than 50% in the first count


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TimetablePublication of Notice of Election 23rd March

Nominations commence 24th March

Close of nominations and Deadline for withdrawals of nomination 4pm on 7th April

Notification of appointment of election Agents 4pm on 7th April

Candidate addresses for inclusion on the ‘ChooseMyPcc’ websitemust be with the PARO by 12 Noon on 7th April

Publication of statement of persons nominatedNo later than 4pm on 8th April


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• Deadline for applications to register to vote 18th April

• Deadline for new postal vote applications/changesto existing postal or proxy vote applications

5pm on 19th April

• Publication of notice of poll / situation of polling stations Not later than 26th April

• Deadline for applications for new proxy votes5pm on 26th April

Timetable


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• Appointment of sub‐agents, counting and polling agents 27th April

• Polling day 5th May – 7am to 10pm

• Deadline to apply to vote by proxy on grounds of medical emergency or if unexpectedly called away because of employment or service 5pm on 5th May

• Replacement for lost/spoilt postal votes ends 5pm on 5th May

• Alterations to register to correct clerical error 9pm on 5th May

• Return of election expenses 15th July

Timetable


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Who can Stand ?

• You can stand if you meet the following criteria – At least 18 years old on the day of your nomination– A British citizen, an eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any

other member state of the European Union, and – Registered as a local government elector in a local council area that is

within the police area in which you wish to stand, both at the time of your nomination and on polling day.

• Disqualifications –– There are a number of disqualification please refer to the Electoral

Commission guidance and the Election Information booklet


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Disqualifications (part 1)

• A person cannot be a candidate if (on the day of their nomination and on the day of the poll) they:

– have been nominated as a candidate at a PCC election taking place on the same day for a different police area

– have ever been convicted of an imprisonable offence

– are a police officer, or are directly or indirectly employed by the police

– are a member of the legislature of any country or territory outside the UK

– are disqualified under the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975


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Disqualifications (part 2)

• A person cannot be a candidate if they:

– are a member of staff of a local council that falls wholly or partly within the police area in which they wish to stand

– are employed in an organisation that is under the control of a local council in the police area in which they wish to stand

– are subject to a bankruptcy restrictions order (or interim order)

– have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983 due to being found guilty of a corrupt or illegal electoral practice by an election court


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Submitting nomination papers• All candidates must submit by 4pm on 7 April their:

– nomination form– home address form– consent to nomination.

• Party candidates will also need to submit by that time a:– certificate authorising use of a party name or a registered description

on the ballot paper – written request to use one of the party’s emblems on the ballot paper

(optional).

• Nomination packs are available tonight and from the Electoral Commission’s website


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Submitting nomination papers ‐ howTake care when completing nomination papers as mistakes may invalidate the nomination! Complete nomination papers early and arrange for us to provide an informal check.

The nomination form, consent to nomination form and home address form must be delivered by hand and cannot be submitted by post, fax or other electronic means.Nomination papers can only be delivered to:

The Police Area Returning Officer,Electoral Services, Civic Centre ,Glebe Street,Stoke‐on‐TrentST4 1RG

between the hours of 10am and 4pm on normal working days(excluding Bank Holidays and Weekends)


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Submitting nomination papers ‐ who

• The nomination form and home address form may only be delivered by:

• the candidate• the election agent (if the Police Area Returning Officer has

previously received notification of their appointment) • the proposer or seconder.

• Deposit – The deposit required is £5,000 and can be made by bankers draft, or legal tender.

Payable to: Stoke on Trent City Council

• The Deposit is returned if a candidate polls at least 5% of the valid first preference votes across the police area.

Total First Preference votes cast less the rejected votes.


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• Include candidate’s full name

• Optional: complete commonly used name box(es) if commonly known by a name other than full name and wish to use this instead.

• Description field – 3 options: ‐ leave blank‐ Independent‐ party candidates can use party name or description authorised by a

certificate issued by or on behalf of the Nominating Officer

Nomination form


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Nomination Subscribers

• Subscribers: proposer, seconder and 98 other ‘assentors’ from the police area are required (must be registered local government electors).

• Each subscriber must sign and print their name. Details checked against register that is valid on 1st March 2016. If they are not on that register, they cannot subscribe the nomination.

• Only ask subscribers to sign after completing the candidate’s name, address and description fields on the form.

• Subscribers can only sign one nomination form for the same Police & Crime Commissioner election.


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Nomination –SubscribersExtracts from Electoral Commission PARO Guidance

• Nomination forms must include an indication of support for the candidate from 100 electors registered on the local government electoral register for a voting area within the police area. These are known as subscribers – the first two are the proposer and seconder, while 98 other electors are the assenters to the nomination.

• The proposer, seconder and other subscribers may be registered anywhere in the police area and there is no limit to the numbers of subscribers from any one voting area, e.g. all 100 may be registered in one voting area or 20 may be registered in five different voting areas.

• Each subscriber is required by law to sign the nomination paper in the appropriate place and their electoral number must be included in the spaces provided alongside their signature, along with the polling district’s identifying letters.


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Nomination –SubscribersExtracts from Electoral Commission PARO Guidance

• You must reject a nomination if the nomination form is not subscribed as required. It is essential that the correct version of the register is used for checking that the subscribers are valid. Subscribers must appear on the local government register for a voting area within the police area that is in force on the last day for publication of notice of election (i.e. the register published on 1 March 2016).

• An elector must not subscribe more than one nomination form in a police area at the PCC election. Any nomination forms delivered subsequently bearing that elector’s signature as a subscriber must be determined as invalid, even where the later nomination form is for the same candidate as the earlier form, or if the earlier nomination form is for a candidate who has subsequently withdrawn or died.


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• Only the first 100 subscribers on any nomination form can be considered. If more subscribers are included, any subsequent names must not be considered at all. If one of the first 100 subscribers is invalid, irrespective of whether more subscribers have been added to the nomination form, the nomination must be held invalid.

• Occasionally a mistake is made with the subscribers on a nomination form, and one or more of the names may be crossed out on the form. If the signature and elector number for a subscriber are clearly crossed out, you should ignore it and treat it as if that row did not appear at all. If asked, you should advise that any crossings out should be clear and, ideally, initialled. You should not cross out any entry.

• If the entry that has been crossed out was that of a proposer or seconder, then the new proposer or seconder must be indicated. Where an entry has been crossed out, the first 100 subscribers excluding that entry must still be valid for the nomination to be valid.


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• Take care when collecting the names of the subscribers• If you ask anyone to get subscriber signatures for you,

ensure they know the requirements• Complete the forms in good time for an informal check

to be made• Any extra subscribers over the 100 put each one on a

separate sheet

• Above all make sure they are electors on the March register within Staffordshire

Nomination –SubscribersAdvice


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• Candidates’ home addresses do not appear on the ballot paper at Police & Crime Commissioner elections.

• Home addresses are published on the statement of persons nominated, unless a home address form is submitted.

• Must provide home address in full and state the electoral area (including council name) where the candidate is registered.

Home address form


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Consent to nomination form

• The consent to nomination requires candidates to confirm:

– that they are qualified and not disqualified from standing– that they are not nominated as a candidate for any other police area

on the same day.– their date of birth.

• The consent must also include the name, address and signature of a witness.


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Certificate of authorisationPolitical Parties

• 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 with the other nomination papers by 4pm on 7th April.


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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 on 7th April.

• Party candidates should supply an electronic version of the emblem to the Police Area Returning Officer if required.


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Election Address

• Each candidate is entitled to make a campaign statement for publication on the website provided by the UK government.

• Election address must be prepared by the election agent and submitted to the PARO in the prescribed form.

• PARO will check to ensure that the address complies with the ‘legal requirements’.

• Deadline for submissions ‐ 12 Noon on 7th April.Please submit as early as possible to ease checking


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Election agent

• Responsible for the proper management of the election campaign; particularly its financial management.

• Notification of appointment must reach the PARO by 4pm on 7th April.

• Candidate will become their own agent by default if none is appointed.


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Sub‐agents

• Election agent can appoint ‘sub‐agents’ to act on their behalf. Sub‐agents can do everything that the election agent is entitled to do within the area they have been appointed.

• Sub‐agents must be made aware of the election rules, as anything they do will be regarded as if it has been done by the election agent.

• Notice in writing of any sub‐agent appointments must be given to the PARO by 27th April.


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Other agents• Other agents can be appointed to attend postal vote openings, polling stations and the count on the candidate’s behalf:

– Notice in writing of any polling or counting agentappointments must be given to the LRO for the relevant local authority area by 27th April.

– Notification of postal voting agent appointments for a particular opening session must be made before the start of the session.

– Appointment forms are provided in the candidate’s packs and are also available from the Electoral Commission’s website.


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Access to electoral register/absent voting lists

• Available once they officially become a candidate:– on 30th March if already declared as a candidate– after 30th March, the date when declared as a candidate, or the date when a nomination is submitted.

•Make written request to the ERO – forms are provided in the candidate pack and are also available from the Electoral Commission’s website.


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Access to electoral register / absent voting lists

• Electoral data may only be used for permitted purposes:

– to complete the nomination form– to help a candidate’s campaign– to check that donations/loans are permissible.

• It is illegal to use it for any other purpose or to pass on to anyone else


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Registration

• A candidate is uniquely placed to encourage people to register to vote.

• They should encourage people to register as soon as possible.

• The deadline for applying to register for these elections is 18th April.

• Registration is now an ‘individual’ system. Individuals can register online at https://www.gov.uk/register‐to‐vote. It only takes a few minutes.


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Registration

• When discussing registering to vote with individuals, candidates will need to make them aware that they will need:

• their National Insurance number,• date of birth and address to register.

• People who do not have / cannot retrieve their National Insurance Number can still register, but they may need to provide further information. If so, they will be contacted by the ERO.


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Absent voting

• If encouraging people who don’t have a postal (or proxy) vote to apply for one, make sure to explain that they will only qualify for one if they are (or will be) individually registered.

• Deadlines for applying for an absent vote are:

– Postal/postal proxy – 5pm on Tuesday 19th April– Proxy – 5pm on Tuesday 26th April

• Application forms are available from the elections team or the Electoral Commission’s website.


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Campaigning dos and don’ts

• Do use imprints on all campaign materials. • Do comply with planning rules relating to advertising

hoardings and large banners.• Domake 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).• Do not put posters on street lighting or street furniture

(see County Council letter)


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Code of conduct for campaigners

• Campaigners are an essential element of a healthy democracy, but their activities should not bring into question the integrity of the electoral process.

• The Police Area Returning Officer asks all candidates and agents to agree to abide by the Electoral Commissions ‘Code of Conduct for Campaigners’.

• This code of conduct covers all aspects of the electoral process: registration, postal voting, proxy voting and polling stations


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• Electoral registration and absent vote applications:

– Ensure forms fully conform to the requirements of electoral law

– Include the EROs address for the return of forms

– Ensure unaltered applications are sent to ERO immediately

– Make sure electors understand implications of applying for an absent vote.


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• Postal ballot packs:

– Never touch a postal ballot paper– Never observe electors completing their postal vote.– Never handle or take any completed ballot paper or postal ballot pack

from voters– Do not encourage postal ballot pack redirection.

• Proxy Voting:

– Do not encourage electors to appoint a campaigner as proxy.



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Candidate spending (1)

• Defined as certain expenses ‘used for the purposes of the candidate’s election during the regulated period’.

• Regulated period starts from the day after a person officially becomes a candidate and ends on polling day (e.g. where they officially become a candidate on 30th March, the regulated period runs from 31st March until 5th May 2016).

• Responsibility of election agent.


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Candidate spending (2)

• Must stay within this limit during the regulated period and keep a record of spending on items and services (receipts required for expenditure over £20).

• Also must keep a record of any donations received.

• Forms relating to the return of candidate spending and donations are available from the Electoral Commission’s website.


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Expenses

• The Candidates election expenses are monitored by the Electoral Commission although they must be submitted to the PARO by as follows Date result is declared Receive your invoices Pay your invoices Submit your return and

agent declaration

6 May 2016 27 May 2016 3 June 2016 15 July 2016

• Guidance for expenses can be found on the Electoral commission website.

• The maximum amount a candidate can spend is £153,313.00

• It is the responsibility of the Candidate’s Election Agent or the Candidate if acting as their own agent to submit the expenses forms.


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Contacts

• PARO Elections office – 01782 23283601782 237073

• PARO Fiona Ledden ‐ 01782 232722

• E‐mail ‐ [email protected]

Please note:The Police Area Returning Officer and her staff have a duty to conduct elections strictly in accordance with the appropriate laws, rules and regulations.They are required to comply with these at all times and this may occasionally restrict the level of assistance that can be offered.


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Contacts & Information

• The Staffordshire Election Information Booklet

• Electoral Commission website Candidates and Agents Police and Crime Commissioners election

• The office of the Police and Crime Commissioner website

• Electoral Commission:– For enquiries about guidance or standing for election, contact:

Tel: 0333 103 1928

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk


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Next Briefing

• 11 April – Election Process –for Nominated Candidates and Agents

This will cover the election process up to and including polling day and the count process from the close of nominations.


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ANY Questions?

staffordshire police area returning officer · 2017-11-07 · staffordshire police area returning...

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