Rule 15 Decisions as to the validity of party nomination papersI1

England and Wales

(1)

This rule applies where the following are delivered in accordance with these rules—

(a)

a party nomination paper, together with its party list,

(b)

the home address form of F1a candidate in that list,

(c)

the consent to nomination of F2a candidate in that list, and

(d)

the deposit that complies with the requirements of rule 11(2) and (3).

(2)

The party F3, and each candidate on its list in respect of which a home address form and consent to nomination form has been received, stands nominated unless and until the returning officer decides that the party nomination paper is invalid.

(3)

The returning officer is entitled to hold a party nomination paper invalid only on one of the following grounds—

(a)

that it breaches rule 6(3) or (5),

(b)

that it breaches rule 7(1) or (5),

(c)

that the paper is not subscribed as required by rule 6(8),

(d)

that the party list includes more than 8 persons, or

(e)

that each candidate included in the party list has, in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5), ceased to stand nominated.

(4)

A candidate on a party list will cease to stand nominated where—

(a)

the returning officer is satisfied that the candidate has died, or

(b)

the candidate withdraws their candidature in accordance with rule 16(3).

(5)

The returning officer is entitled to hold that a party list candidate has ceased to stand nominated where—

(a)

the particulars of a candidate are not as required by law,

(b)

a candidate is disqualified under section 16(A1) of the 2006 Act from being a member of the Senedd and from being a candidate to be a member of the Senedd, or

(c)

a candidate’s candidature is in breach of section 7(4) of the 2006 Act.

(6)

Where a candidate on a party list ceases to stand nominated by virtue of paragraph (5), it will not of itself prevent any other candidate included on that party list from continuing to stand nominated.

(7)

The returning officer must, as soon as reasonably practicable after each—

(a)

party nomination paper, and accompanying party list,

(b)

home address form for each party list candidate, and

(c)

consent to nomination form for each party list candidate,

has been delivered, examine them and decide whether the party has been validly nominated.

(8)

Subject to paragraph (9), the returning officer must decide on any objection to a party nomination paper or to a party list candidate—

(a)

as soon as reasonably practicable after it is made, and

(b)

in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours beginning with the close of the period for the delivery of nomination papers.

(9)

If in the opinion of the returning officer a party nomination paper breaches rule 6(3) or (5) or 7(1) or (5), the returning officer must give a decision to that effect—

(a)

as soon as reasonably practicable after the delivery of the nomination paper, and

(b)

in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours beginning with the close of the period for delivery of nomination papers.

(10)

Where the returning officer decides that—

(a)

a party nomination paper is invalid, or

(b)

the name and address of a candidate are to be deleted from a party list,

the returning officer must endorse on the paper the fact of the decision and the reasons for it, and sign the endorsement.

(11)

The returning officer must, as soon as reasonably practicable, give a notice to the registered nominating officer of a registered political party which submitted a party nomination paper and party list stating—

(a)

the returning officer’s decision as to whether the party’s nomination paper is valid or invalid, and

(b)

whether the name and address of any candidates are to be deleted from a party list.

(12)

The returning officer’s decision that—

(a)

a party nomination paper is valid, or

(b)

the name and address of a candidate are to be deleted from a party list,

is final and may not be questioned in any proceedings.

(13)

Subject to paragraphs (11) and (12), nothing in this rule prevents the validity of a nomination being questioned on a Senedd election petition.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in Sch. 5 rule 15(1)(b) substituted (24.3.2026) by The Representation of the People (Absent Voting and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/91), regs. 1(2), 43(2)(a)
F2: Words in Sch. 5 rule 15(1)(c) substituted (24.3.2026) by The Representation of the People (Absent Voting and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/91), regs. 1(2), 43(2)(b)
F3: Words in Sch. 5 rule 15(2) substituted (24.3.2026) by The Representation of the People (Absent Voting and Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2026 (W.S.I. 2026/91), regs. 1(2), 43(2)(c)

Commencement

I1: Sch. 5 rule 15 in force at 18.7.2025, see art. 1(2)