Explanatory note

These Rules amend Schedule 2 to the Local Elections (Principal Areas) Rules 1986 to make provision equivalent to that which the amendments in Schedule 2 to the Registration of Political Parties Act 1998 make to the parliamentary elections rules in Schedule 1 to the Representation of the People Act 1983. The 1986 Rules apply to county, district and London borough council elections in England and county and county borough council elections in Wales.

The amendments give returning officers the power to reject nomination papers which include a description which is likely to lead voters to associate the candidate with a registered political party unless the description is authorised by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of that party. They also provide for the inclusion of emblems of registered parties on ballot papers.