ALDC will be running the Election Law Helpline service for the Party throughout the 2011local election period. It is vital that everyone in the party stays on the right side of the law throughout the campaign, and we'll be here to help you do this.
What sort of advice and information will be available?
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Practical issues around election law - nominations, DNOs, imprints, expenses, freeposts etc.
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Detailed queries about election law issues.
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Guidance on issues such as libel and defamation.
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Advice if you are threatened with legal action.
There are three ways you can access advice:
1 - Online
ALDC members can browse our up-to-date advice resources in our members' website. Most of the relevant information is contained in the "Advice" section of our website. Articles can easily be found through the "topic" flags on the right side of the site or use the search at the top of the site.
Below we've listed links to the most frequently asked pieces of information. If you're not a member of ALDC, why not join us - by monthly Direct Debit it's only 76p a week for candidates standing in May.
2 - By email
Email us your queries and we'll make sure that the most appropriate person deals with your query as quickly as possible. Contact us via this form to make sure your request gets to us as soon as possible. (Emailing an individual staff member is not recommended, as you might catch us on a day when they're not in and your response will be delayed).
3 - By Phone
Phone us on 01422 843 785 between 9.30am - 5.00pm Monday - Friday to be put through to the next available advisor. Outside these hours an answerphone message will take any queries. If you get the answerphone during the working day it may mean that there are more phones ringing than there are staff in the office, so please be patient!
How will we deal with your request
We will try to deal with all requests as soon as possible. Our normal standard is that advice received before 2.00pm on a working day is dealt with that day, or for requests received after 2.00pm on the following morning. However please be patient with us during busy periods.
We are not lawyers and will will not be able to give formal legal opinion, but we can help talk you through the issues and what needs to be considered.
There are systems in place for more complex and urgent cases to be referred to specialist advisers elsewhere. We will advise you if this is what we intend to do with your query.
Frequently Asked For advice:
Imprints for election leaflets in 2011
Local council Election expense limits
Eligibility to be a council candidate
Approving council candidates
Local election nomination forms
You can also find links to some of the campaign essentials here from our website.
Updated 4/3/11
