A Parliamentary general election has been called for 4 July 2024.
It is likely that a by election for the Essex County Council Pitsea division in Basildon will be held on the same day.
Pre-election period start and end dates
The pre-election period will formally start on 30 May 2024 and will end at the close of polls on 4 July 2024.
The rules about political publicity and use of council resources apply at all times, not just in the run up to an election, but the pre-election period is particularly sensitive and extra caution is required.
This guidance is intended to help explain the rules in the sensitive pre-election period.
Pre-election publicity rules
The pre-election publicity rules (sometimes called 'purdah', although Essex County Council (ECC) discourages the use of that term) seek to stop public money and public resources from being used for political purposes or to produce publicity that might influence an election.
The word 'publicity' is very broadly defined as meaning any communication addressed to the whole or a section of the public.
Business as usual
During the pre-election period most council business will continue, although members and officers must have regard to this guidance.
Some meetings may be cancelled given that some members will be campaigning.
What the county council cannot do
During the pre-election period, the county council cannot:
- publish anything which appears to be at least partly designed to affect support for a political party
- help anyone else to publish such publicity, for example by providing a script for an interview
- organise or host publicity-seeking events which may appear to be designed to affect support for a political party
- give proactive publicity to anyone involved in the election
- launch consultations - consultations started before the pre-election period may extend into the pre-election period, but any publicity issued during the pre-election period must comply with the election rules
- incur expenses by holding meetings, or issuing adverts or publications with a view to promoting the election of a candidate - breach of these rules can constitute a criminal offence
- use any of its resources for party political purposes
- assist members involved in the election to use social media or host or publish blogs
- allow anyone to hold a surgery in ECC premises if it is attended by anyone involved in the election
We consider that a member is involved in the election if:
- they are a candidate
- they are an election agent (with respect to publicity which wholly or partly affects the area in which the election is held)
- they are actively campaigning in the election (with respect to publicity which wholly or partly affects the area in which the election is held)
Any publicity material issued by the council which quotes any member during the pre-election period must not:
- be designed to affect support for a political party
- quote someone involved in the election
- quote another member but to such an extent that the cumulative impact of other publicity relating to that member could lead to a suggestion that the member involved is actively involved in the election
Any material to be issued quoting any member involved in the election during the pre-election period must be referred to the Monitoring Officer or the Deputy Monitoring Officer who can refer any material they consider appropriate to the Leader of the Group or the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive.
What the county council can do
During the pre-election period, the county council can:
- respond to external events where it would be expected to do so
- issue factual non-political press releases
- publish factual information which identifies the names, constituencies and parties of candidates at elections
- publish decisions made as part of usual council business
- hold events which are not likely to give publicity to anyone involved in the election
What members can do themselves
Subject to election law, members and their campaign team may arrange any publicity themselves during the pre-election period, as long as no ECC officers are involved and no ECC equipment, assets or resources are used. This applies to all members regardless of whether they are standing in the election.
There are no restrictions on members attending an event which is not organised by ECC or its contractors, but the ECC should not encourage such events to be held.
On rare occasions it may be necessary for ECC officers to advise whether it is appropriate to arrange news conferences in order to react to external events.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the pre-election period, contact the Monitoring Officer or Deputy Monitoring Officer, using the Democratic Services contact details (PDF, 124 KB).