Whilst many of the requirements on organisations (and individuals) stay the same, including the private and public tests to determine whether you/your organisation should register with the Electoral Commission, there are two key differences during an Assembly election from the UK 2015 General Election:
- The regulated period is shorter, starting on 5th January 2016 and ending on election day 5th May 2016.
- The spending limit for unregistered campaigning is £10,000 for registered campaigning it is £15,300.
The Electoral Commission recently hosted a seminar at NICVA at which they delivered the presentation available below. They have also produced a number of helpful guidance notes on their website.
A "10 Things to Know" about the Lobbying Act is also available there.