Commentary on Sections Election expenses Section 26 Return as to election expenses
168.This section amends section 81 (return as to election expenses) of the 1983 Act, by inserting a new subsection (3A) and omitting subsection (3).
169.Section 81(3), as amended by the 2000 Act, prescribes the information to be included in a candidate’s election expenses return to the appropriate officer and the form in which the information should be presented. The Electoral Commission expressed concern that the information as required to be presented by section 81(1) to (3) is too prescriptive and complex. Consequently the election expenses return that the Electoral Commission must produce is difficult to understand.
170.New subsection (3A) allows the Electoral Commission greater flexibility in prescribing the form in which the information required should be presented, without reducing the amount of information that must be included in the return.