Advice re advertising on vehicles ("wrapping" of vehicles)

The adaptation ("wrapping") of cars, jeeps, vans, etc., with a candidate's or a political party's livery is an election expense as it promotes a person's candidacy and/or a political party's interests at the election. If such vehicles are used during the election period the full costs of producing the advertising on the vehicles is an election expense.

The Standards Commission is aware, however, that some public representatives use mobile constituency clinics which are already "wrapped" in the public representative's or political party's livery. The Standards Commission is of the view that where such vehicles have been used on an ongoing basis and are "wrapped" with livery which is of a general nature and is not explicitly seeking to promote a person's candidacy and/or a political party's interests at the general election, the costs of adapting these vehicles will not be regarded as an election expense even if the vehicles are used during the election period.

If, however, a mobile office is being used purely for the election or has been "wrapped" with livery which explicitly promotes a person's candidacy, a party's interests or which solicits votes for a candidate and/or a political party at the election, then the cost of adapting the vehicle is regarded as an election expense and, if the vehicle is used during the election period, the full cost of adapting the vehicle must be accounted for.

Where it is intended not to account for advertising / livery on a campaign vehicle on the basis that the advertising / livery is not for electoral purposes the relevant agent should contact the Standards Commission for confirmation that the advertising / livery is not an election expense.