Engaging with politicians, candidates and political parties can remain a core part of your campaigning activity in the run up to an election. However, groups should make sure they have read the Electoral Commission’s code of practice and guidelines. The Commission’s website also has useful case studies of what is and isn’t regulated.
What you can do
- Invite candidates and political party representatives to public meetings about issues on which the charity is campaigning.
- Invite candidates to debate issues related to the charity’s objectives.
- Organise hustings, providing the charity remains politically neutral.
- Invite candidates to speak at a reception to launch the charity’s campaign(s).
- Invite representatives from a range of political parties to participate in the charity’s events (this does not have to include EVERY political party).
- Exclude a candidate if their presence will create a risk of disorder, if their views are in contravention of the charity’s objects or likely to alienate the charity’s supporters.
- Accept invitations from political parties to explain the needs of its beneficiary group.
- Organise different kinds of direct action in support of charitable campaign activity.
- Organise a petition in support of its charitable campaign activity.
- Organise member-only events such as the charity’s annual conference.
- Undertake market research with members and/or committed supporters.
If you do any of the following, you may break charity law or need to register as a third party campaigner
- Invite candidates from only one political party to participate in the charity’s events.
- Exclude candidates from the mainstream political parties without very strong reasons for doing so.
- Hold public rallies or events that might influence how people will vote.
- Undertake canvassing and market research of the public.
- Promote a pledge made by candidates in support of your aims.
IN BRIEF: A charity can continue to campaign during elections providing it sticks to its own issues and does not attempt to influence how people vote.
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