Electoral Commission: End £500 deposit required to stand in elections

A new review of electoral law has led Jenny Watson, Chair of the Electoral Commission to say: `The current rules on standing for election are complex, out of date and difficult for candidates to navigate.`

The Electoral Commission issued a report reviewing criteria for candidates including the removal of the `ability to pay` criterion.

The watchdog is opposing a deposit as it depends on a candidate’s financial means, and because it believes it inflicts on democratic values. The Electoral Commission has said that the deposit can often be `unaffordable and therefore restricts one’s ability to participate in elections`.

This new debate does not solely focuses on the upcoming general election, but also on voting procedures to the European Parliament, London Assembly elections, crime commissioner and police. The debate which is regaining the attention it had in 2003 is now being picked up by independent candidates and smaller parties, which feel particularly disadvantaged by these `ability to pay` criterions.

A scrap of the `ability to pay` criterion in 2003 was harshly criticized by MP`s, especially by larger parties, but it is now gaining momentum in the light of shifting support for minority parties and candidates.

Watson welcomed the open reaction to this issue: `We’d like to get as broad a range of views as possible and welcome input from all involved in the electoral process: from those who stand, or have been deterred from standing for election, to the agents and parties that support them, the electors that vote for them and those that manage elections.’

She continued: ‘We`ve listened to a wide range of views and our recommendations will make it easier for candidates to stand for election in the future, whilst maintaining trust and confidence in the system.`

Lorenz Narku Laing