Non-Party Campaigner guidance published for Northern Ireland Assembly election in 2016
The Electoral Commission has published guidance to help non-party campaigners understand and comply with campaigning rules at the May 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election.
It’s important that campaigners understand and follow the rules and this guidance will help by clearly explaining what the rules are and how to comply.
You can view the guidance on the Electoral Commission’s website and by clicking the following link: Northern Ireland Assembly election 2016 guidance
In brief, all individuals and groups that intend to spend more than £10,000 on regulated campaign activity in the run up to the Northern Ireland Assembly election, between 5 January and 5 May 2016, will need to register with the Electoral Commission.
Campaigners registered with the Electoral Commission will be able to spend up to £15,300 on campaigning at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, and will need to comply with the rules on campaign spending, donations and loans.
Registered campaigners will be required to report all campaign spending, donations and loans to the Electoral Commission three months after the election.
If you are planning to undertake any campaign activity in the run-up to the election in 2016 then the rules could affect you and you should read the Electoral Commission guidance to determine whether you need to register.
If you have any queries, you can contact the Electoral Commission using the following details:
The Electoral Commission
Ground Floor
4 Cromac Place
The Gasworks
Belfast BT7 2JB
Tel: 028 9089 4025
Fax: 028 90314827
www.electoralcommission.org.uk
Notes to editors:
Non-party campaigners are organisations or individuals that are not standing for election themselves, but are spending money on certain election-related activities or material, seeking to influence the outcome of the election. This could be for or against particular candidates or political parties, or campaigning on particular issues.
The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has produced guidance on Charities and politics which is available in the Charity essentials section of our website.