Candidate expenses and information

Candidates are permitted to spend a limited amount of money during their campaign for office. Information on expenses and electorate figures can be found on this page.

Local elections in May 2023

District electorate figures for expenses are listed below:

Parish / Town electorate figures are listed below:

Expenses overview

There are rules that apply to spending on activities that promote a candidacy during the run-up to an election.  This 'regulated period' dictates a spending limit that a candidate must adhere to during their campaign. 

Spending includes any expenses incurred, whether on goods, services, property or facilities, for the purposes of the candidate's election during the regulated period.  It is the candidate's responsibility to accurately record their spending during the regulated period.

When is the regulated period?

The regulated period for the Local elections in May 2023 begins on the day after you officially become a candidate and ends on polling day, Thursday, 4 May 2023.

When does a person officially become a candidate?

The earliest date you can officially become a candidate is the last date of the publication of the Notice of Election.

The last date you can officially become a candidate is 4pm at the close of nominations.

How much can a candidate spend?

The regulated period has a spending limit, this spending limit is:

£806, plus 7p per local government elector in the ward that you are standing in, that are registered to vote on a specific date in the election timetable.

The electorate figures for each District and Parish / Town ward will appear above this section on this page in March 2023.

Spending limits for joint candidates

There are certain deductions that apply to candidate spending if you are a joint candidate, because you share some costs.  You are a joint candidate if:

• You and another candidate are standing in the same ward with the same election agent; or
• You and another candidate are standing in the same ward and use the same campaign rooms; or
• You and another candidate are standing in the same ward and publish joint campaign material.

Electoral Commission's website

Declaring your expenses

After the election has finished all candidates are required to declare their expenses, the costs incurred for their election campaign during the regulated period.

A declaration is not for reimbursement and must be completed regardless of whether you have or haven't been elected, or spent any money.

There are deadlines for all expenses relating to the Local elections in May 2023:

District council expenses

District council candidate expenses and declaration must be submitted to the Returning Officer no later than 35 days after the election result is declared.

Parish / town expenses

Parish / town candidate expenses and declaration must be submitted to the Returning Officer within 28 calendar days after the day of the election.

Further information

There is a lot of information regarding the use of money and donations throughout the regulated period.  The Electoral Commission have two useful guidance booklets relating to spending.  The links are below:

Please note: The information on the Electoral Commission website currently relates to May 2022 polls and will be updated in the new year.

District election spending and donations

Parish / Town Election spending and donations