Petition · past parliament · Cabinet Office
Scrap all election deposits to open up democracy
Closed
124 signatures
What the petition asks
We do not think that the ability to pay a specified fee is a relevant or appropriate criterion for determining access to the ballot paper.
The sum, which is returned if a candidate gets at least 5% of votes cast, is “unreasonable" as it depends on financial means. An ‘entry fee’ to democracy.
The sum, which is returned if a candidate gets at least 5% of votes cast, is “unreasonable" as it depends on financial means. An ‘entry fee’ to democracy.
Election deposits are virtually a ‘tax’ on democracy “The £500 deposit required to run for parliament should be scrapped in order to enable a wider range of candidates to stand, says the Electoral Commission.” This recommendation was made by the Electoral Commission in 2015 . The watchdog said:
“In the case of deposits, it does not seem reasonable to have a barrier to standing for election that depends on someone’s financial means. We do not think that the ability to pay a specified fee is a relevant or appropriate criterion for determining access to the ballot paper.”
“We therefore recommend that deposit requirements are abolished.”
“In the case of deposits, it does not seem reasonable to have a barrier to standing for election that depends on someone’s financial means. We do not think that the ability to pay a specified fee is a relevant or appropriate criterion for determining access to the ballot paper.”
“We therefore recommend that deposit requirements are abolished.”
Timeline
| 10 Mar 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 10 Sep 2020 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
124
Status
Closed
Department
Cabinet Office
Opened
10 Mar 2020
Closed
10 Sep 2020
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.