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SCHEDULE 3U.K.THE MAYORAL ELECTION RULES

PART 3U.K.Stages Common To Contested And Uncontested Elections

Decisions as to validity of nomination papersU.K.

10.—(1) Where a nomination paper and the candidate's consent to it [F1and a home address form] are delivered, and the deposit is made, in accordance with these Rules, the candidate must be deemed to stand nominated unless and until—

(a)the GLRO decides that the nomination paper is invalid, or

[F2(aa)the GLRO decides that the home address form—

(i)does not comply with the requirements of rule 6(9A), or

(ii)if the form contains a statement under rule 6(9B)(a), does not comply with the signature requirement in that rule or the requirements of rule 6(9B)(b), or]

(b)proof is given to the GLRO's satisfaction of the candidate's death, or

(c)the candidate withdraws.

(2) The GLRO is entitled to hold the nomination paper of a person invalid only on one of the following grounds—

(a)that the particulars of the candidate or of the persons subscribing the paper are not as required by law,

(b)that the paper is not subscribed as so required;,

(c)that the paper breaks rule 6(5) or (7).

[F3(2A) If, contrary to rule 7(3A), a person subscribes more than one nomination paper the GLRO, in determining whether a paper is subscribed as so required under paragraph (2)(b)—

(a)must only take the person’s signature into account in respect of the first nomination paper delivered under rule 6(1)(b) on which the person’s signature appears,

(b)must, where the person’s signature appears on a nomination paper delivered subsequently, find that the paper is not subscribed as so required if the signature appears within the first 330 signatures on the paper, regardless of whether the paper contains more than 330 signatures.]

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the GLRO must, as soon as practicable after each nomination paper [F4and home address form have been delivered, examine them] and decide whether the candidate has been validly nominated.

(4) If in the GLRO's opinion a nomination paper breaks rule 6(5) or (7), he must give a decision to that effect—

(a)as soon as practicable after the delivery of the nomination paper, and

(b)in any event, before the end of the period of 24 hours starting with the end of the period for the delivery of nomination papers set out in the timetable in rule 3.

(5) Where the GLRO decides that a nomination paper is invalid, he must endorse and sign on the paper the fact and the reasons for his decision.

(6) The GLRO must, as soon as practicable after making such a decision in accordance with paragraph (3) or (4) that a [F5nomination paper] is valid or invalid, send notice of it to the candidate at his home address as given in his [F6home address form].

(7) The GLRO's decision that a nomination paper is valid is final and may not be questioned in any proceeding whatsoever.

(8) Subject to paragraph (7), nothing in this rule prevents the validity of a nomination being questioned on an election petition.