{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-scottish-parliament-elections-etc-order-2015/schedule-2/paragraph-14",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-scottish-parliament-elections-etc-order-2015/schedule-2/paragraph-14.json",
  "legislation": "sdsi/2015/9780111029916",
  "legislation_title": "The Scottish Parliament (Elections etc.) Order 2015",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/draft-scottish-parliament-elections-etc-order-2015",
  "path": "schedule/2/paragraph/14",
  "kind": "paragraph",
  "number": "14",
  "heading": "Decisions as to validity of constituency nomination papers",
  "text": "(1) Where a constituency nomination paper and the candidate’s consent to it are delivered and a deposit is made in accordance with these Rules, the candidate shall be deemed to stand nominated unless and until—\n(a) the CRO decides that the constituency nomination paper is invalid;\n(b) proof is given to the CRO’s satisfaction of the candidate’s death; or\n(c) the candidate withdraws.\n(2) The CRO is entitled to hold a constituency nomination paper invalid only on one of the following grounds—\n(a) that the particulars of the candidate or the witness signing the paper are not as required by law;\n(b) that the paper is not witnessed as so required;\n(c) that the candidate is disqualified by virtue of the Representation of the People Act 1981 (disqualification of certain offenders for membership of the House of Commons).\n(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the CRO shall give a decision on any objection to a constituency nomination paper—\n(a) as soon as practicable after the objection is made, and\n(b) in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours starting with the close of the period for delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.\n(4) If in the CRO’s opinion a constituency nomination paper breaches rule 7, the CRO shall give a decision to that effect—\n(a) as soon as practicable after delivery of the nomination paper; and\n(b) in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours starting with the close of the period for delivery of nomination papers set out in the Table in rule 1.\n(5) Where the CRO decides that a constituency nomination paper is invalid, the CRO shall endorse and sign on the paper that fact and the reasons for the decision.\n(6) The CRO’s decision that a constituency nomination paper is valid shall be final and shall not be questioned in any proceeding whatsoever.\n(7) Subject to paragraph (6), nothing in this rule prevents the validity of a nomination being questioned on an election petition.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "1981 c.34."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2015/9780111029916/schedule/2/paragraph/14",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-30T15:34:43.999227+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}