[T]he timetable of key dates has been confirmed for the UK Parliamentary General Election, which will be held on 8 June, 2017.
Potential candidates are being warned that the period for submission of nomination papers is particularly tight for this election, with only between 3 and 6 days to get your paperwork in before the deadline.
The earliest the Notice of Election is likely to be published following the dissolution of Parliament and the receipt of the official election writ is Friday, 5 May, and the latest it can be published is 4pm on Monday, May 8.
The publication of the notice means candidates can then submit their nomination papers – but only have until Thursday, 11 May, to hand in the completed documents, which must be delivered before the 4pm cut-off point. Candidates have an opportunity to have their nomination papers informally checked prior to their formal submission.
The election in the Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency is being managed by the Acting Returning Officer, who is a senior officer with South Lakeland District Council (SLDC), and the verification and count will be held overnight at Kendal Leisure Centre.
The Acting Returning Officer for the Parliamentary Election, Debbie Storr, said: “The snap general election means the timescales are tight. We want to ensure that anyone considering standing in the Parliamentary Election understands that there is a limited window for them to submit the correctly completed nomination papers by the 11 May deadline.
“If anyone considering standing, particularly any candidate with limited previous experience of the process, would like some advice or guidance, or informal checks made of their nomination papers, then the electoral services team at South Lakeland District Council will be happy to assist.
“We would urge candidates not to leave the submission of their nomination papers until the last minute as any submissions after the 4pm deadline can’t be accepted and if there are any mistakes or missing information there may not be time to complete the forms.
“We don’t control the deadlines, they are set to a statutory timescale so we don’t have any discretion in this matter.’’
Any candidates wanting to find out more about the nomination process and what information is required can visit the Electoral Commission’s website, which has a useful guide for candidates and agents: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/uk-parliamentary-general-election-great-britain
The deadline for registering to vote in the 2017 General Election is 22 May. Anyone who needs to register to vote you can do this by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Anyone who is unable to get to a polling station on 8 June can apply for a postal or proxy vote. For more information about applying for a postal or proxy vote visit: https://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/voting-and-elections/voting-and-electoral-registration/postal-and-proxy-voting/
Key dates for the 2017 Parliamentary general election
Publication of notice of election: Not later than 4pm on Monday, 8 May
Deadline for delivery of nomination papers: 4pm on Thursday, 11 May
Publication of statement of persons nominated: Thursday, 11 May
Publication of notice of poll: Thursday, 11 May
Publication of situation of polling stations: Thursday, 11 May
Deadline for registering vote in the General Election: Monday, 22 May
Deadline for receiving new postal vote and proxy vote applications, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes: Tuesday, 23 May
Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy: Wednesday, 31 May
Polling day: Thursday, 8 June
