Guidelines for the European Parliament Elections 2009

E. "The Election Period" - Dates between which the spending limit applies

2.17 The spending limit at the election applies to all expenses incurred and payments made on property, goods or services which are used for electoral purposes during the "election period". At a European election the election period commences on the date of the order appointing polling day and ending on polling day itself, both dates included.  The election period for the 2009 European election is from 29 April 2009 to 5 June 2009.

2.18 Regardless of when the expenses are incurred or the payments are made, they must be taken into account if they relate to property, goods or services which are used for electoral purposes during the election period. Accordingly, expenses which are incurred or payments which are made at any time before the commencement of the election period on property, goods or services which are used during the election period must be accounted for.

2.19 If expenses are incurred or payments are made on property, goods or services which were not used, or only a part was used, during the election period it will not be necessary to account for the unused part. Similarly, it will not be necessary to account for expenses incurred or payments made in respect of property, goods or services which were used before the commencement of the election period or which were used after the election period. Some examples of this might be:

• promotional material distributed by candidates/political parties before the election period commenced;
• insurance or rent costs applying to a campaign premises in so far as the costs relate to a period before and/or after the election period;
• "Thank you" notices circulated after the election.

2.20 If an advertisement is published in a newspaper or other periodical publication which carries a publication date (i.e., the date printed on the paper) which is during the election period, the advertisement will be regarded as an election expense. If the publication date is before or after the election period, the advertisement is not regarded as an election expense.

2.21 The cost of an opinion poll or other similar survey which is taken within the period of 60 days before polling day will be regarded as an election expense.

Back to contents