Political

General election and local election timetable, 2010

The deadline for registering to vote in a May 6 general election (or the local elections on that day) will be 20 April.

With the general election now set for May 6, I’ve updated the following timetable of the key events. When there are combined local and general elections on the same day, timetables can get confusing as common action – such as submitting nomination papers – have their own different deadlines for local and general elections. Hopefully this timetable will help you to navigate your way around those issues.

Publication of version of electoral register used for nominating local election candidates: Monday 1 March (Note – this is for people being able to nominate candidates. For someone using a register entry to quality to stand they only need be on the register by the time their nomination paper is submitted.)

Publication of notice of local government election: Not later than Monday 29 March

Publication of version of electoral register used for nominating general election candidates: Thursday 1 April

Close of nominations for local government election (including parish / town council elections): Noon on Thursday 8 April

Proclamation of dissolution / issue of general election writ: Monday 12 April

Statement of persons nominated for local government election: Noon on Monday 12 April

Receipt of general election writ: (Probable date) Tuesday 13 April

Publication of notice of general election: (Probable date)  Tuesday 13 April

Deadline for withdrawal of nominations for local government election: Noon on Tuesday 13 April

Deadline for appointment of election agents for local government election: Noon on Tuesday 13 April

General election nominations begin: (Probable date) 10am on Wednesday 14 April (date will be day after publication of notice of election)

ITV TV debate between party leaders: Thursday 15 April (8:30pm)

Deadline for submitting electoral registration request in order to be able to vote at the election: Tuesday 20 April

Close of nominations for general election: 4pm on Tuesday 20 April

Deadline for appointment of election agents for general election: 4pm on Tuesday 20 April

Deadline for withdrawals of nominations for general election: 4pm on Tuesday 20 April

Deadline for submitting requests to change or cancel existing postal or proxy vote arrangements: 5pm on Tuesday 20 April

Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll (if no objections to nominations) for general election: 5pm on Tuesday 20 April

Deadline for submitting new requests for postal votes: 5pm on Tuesday 20 April

Sky TV debate between party leaders: Thursday 22 April (8pm)

Deadline for submitting new requests for proxy votes (except for medical emergencies proxies) : 5pm on Tuesday 27 April

Publication of notice of poll for local government elections: Not later than Tuesday 27 April

Publication of version of electoral register used for determining entitlement to vote: Wednesday 28 April

Deadline for appointing counting agents and polling agents (local elections): Wednesday 28 April

BBC TV debate between party leaders: Thursday 29 April (8:30pm)

Deadline for appointing counting agents and polling agents (general election): Tuesday 4 May

Polling day: 7am to 10pm on Thursday 6 May

Deadlines for submitting new requests for proxy votes (medical emergencies only) and for issuing replacements for lost or spoilt postal ballot paperwork: 5pm on Thursday 6 May

Deadline for making alterations to electoral register to correct clerical error or implement court decision: 9pm on Thursday 6 May

Last day for receipt of invoices for elections expenses: Thursday 27 May (if result declared before midnight on 6 May) or Friday 28 May (if result declared on 7 May)

Last day for payment of invoices for elections expenses: Thursday 3 June (if result declared before midnight on 6 May) or Friday 4 June (if result declared on 7 May)

Deadline for submitting election expenses:  Thursday 10 June (if result declared before midnight on 6 May) or Friday 11 June (if result declared on 7 May)

Deadline for submitting candidate’s declaration regarding election expense return: 7 working days after election expense return submitted

Note: the poll at all contested parish council elections in England and community council elections in Wales will be postponed for 3 weeks until Thursday 27 May. Uncontested elections will be completed in the usual fashion on Thursday 6 May.

Thanks to both the Electoral Commission and House of Commons Library for information which I have made use of in compiling this timetable.

7 responses to “General election and local election timetable, 2010”

  1. What’s the difference between the 1st March and 1st April events? In order for someone to be an assenter to a local government nomination when must they be on the register by?

    • Thanks for spotting that Steve. I’ve changed the wording to correct and clarify: the March date refers to local election nominations and the April one to general election nominations.

  2. The legal deadline for issuing the General Election writ is 12 April but given the date of publication of notice of poll for the local elections isnt the most likely date for GB to go to the Palace, 29th March?

    The land would be full of irate returning officers if they had to wait for a fortnight between the two dates to know whether they were running two elections on the same day. And the media would most likely be full of stories about GB dithering.

    The last day of parliament sitting before the Easter break would most likely be 26th March which makes it even more neat and tidy for GB to go to the Palace on the following Monday, no?

  3. Possibly Ed, but I’m not sure irate or not Returning Officers will be near top of the PM’s list of priorities when deciding whether to have a short or long official campaign.

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