There are now only three months left for new political parties to apply for registration to contest the ACT election to be held on 15 October 2016, the acting ACT Electoral Commissioner, Ro Spence, said today.

“New parties wanting to run candidates in the 2016 election must lodge their applications with the ACT Electoral Commissioner by 30 June 2016,” Mr Spence said.  “Applications for new parties must be accompanied by the constitution of the party and the names of at least 100 members of the party who are on the ACT electoral roll.”

“The main advantage of registration for a party is the right to list party candidates in a column under the party’s name on ballot papers,” Mr Spence said.  Registered parties are also given other rights, such as the right to nominate candidates and to receive copies of the ACT electoral roll.

“However, registering as a political party also comes with obligations,” Mr Spence stated. “Each registered party is responsible for submitting annual returns, gift returns and electoral expenditure returns to the ACT Electoral Commissioner.”

Information on how to apply for registration can be found on the Elections ACT website.

There are currently six political parties registered to contest the October 2016 election:

• Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
• Australian Sex Party ACT
• Liberal Democratic Party
• Liberal Party of Australia (A. C. T. Division)
• The ACT Greens
• The Community Alliance Party (ACT)