Commentary on Provisions Interpretation Section 49 – Further definitions relating to candidates etc.
158.This section defines other terms used in Part 8 of the Act to outline the boundaries of the transparency requirements in this Part: “candidate”, “future candidate”, “registered party”, “recognised third party”, “registered party”, “relevant Scottish election” and “relevant Scottish elective office”. As with its inclusion in Part 6 of the Elections Act 2022, “future candidate” is a person who is a future candidate at an election for a relevant Scottish elective office. This category is intended to avoid any potential ambiguity in relation to when imprints are required because candidates are only being legally recognised for a limited pre-election period, despite the fact they may have been campaigning before then.