Ajay Kumar at 13:33, 27 August 2023

2023-08-27T13:33:26Z

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{{Short description|Type of sum of money in electoral systems}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
In an electoral system, a '''deposit''' is the sum of money that a [[candidate]] for an elected office, such as a seat in a [[legislature]], is required to pay to an electoral authority before they are permitted to stand for election.

In the typical case, the deposit collected is repaid to the candidate after the poll if the candidate obtains a specified proportion of the votes cast. The purpose of the deposit is to reduce the prevalence of 'fringe' candidates or parties with no realistic chance of winning a seat. If the candidate does not achieve the refund threshold, the deposit is forfeited.

== Australia ==
In [[Australia]]n federal elections, a candidate for either the [[Australian House of Representatives]] or the [[Australian Senate]] is required to pay a deposit of $2,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Candidate nominations |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/candidates/nominating.htm |website=Australian Electoral Commission |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=11 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/candidates/|title=Candidate information|publisher=[[Australian Electoral Commission]]|access-date=8 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619202357/https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/candidates/|archive-date=19 June 2020}}</ref> The deposit is refunded if the candidate or group gains at least 4% of first [[Ranked voting systems|preference votes]] in the relevant electoral division.

The [[States and territories of Australia]] will have their own individual deposit requirements and repayment thresholds for their separate elections.

== Canada ==
In [[Canada]], there is no longer a deposit requirement for federal elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=med&document=nov0817&dir=pre&lang=e|title=News Releases and Media Advisories|website=Elections.ca|date=10 August 2021}}</ref> On 25 October 2017, the judge presiding over ''Szuchewycz v. Canada''<ref name="canlii.org">{{cite CanLII|litigants=Szuchewycz v Canada (Attorney General)|year=2017|court=abqb|num=645|parallelcite=|date=2017-10-25}}</ref> found that the deposit requirement infringed [[Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]] and could not be justified under [[Section 1 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]]. The successful Charter challenge of the deposit requirement was undertaken by self-represented<ref name="canlii.org"/> Edmontonian Kieran Szuchewycz who had failed to meet the candidacy requirements for the [[2015 Canadian federal election]] when attempting to run against the former prime minister [[Stephen Harper]] in the Calgary electoral district of [[Calgary Heritage]].

Before the ''Szuchewycz v. Canada'' ruling, a candidate for Member of Parliament needed to place a $1,000 deposit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/globe-editorial-a-judge-bans-federal-election-deposits-and-it-makes-sense/article36788882/|title=Globe editorial: A judge bans federal election deposits, and it makes sense|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=31 October 2017}}</ref>

== Hong Kong ==
Each list of candidates for the [[Legislative Council of Hong Kong]] is subject to a deposit of HK$50,000 for a geographical constituency, and HK$25,000 for a "functional constituency". The deposit is forfeited should the list (or candidate) fail to secure at least 3% of the valid votes cast in the constituency.<ref>Paggie Leung, "Deposit forfeitures nearly double", ''[[South China Morning Post]]'', Page A4, 9 September 2008</ref> For [[District Councils of Hong Kong|District Council]] elections, the deposit amount is HK$3,000.

== India ==
In the [[Republic of India]], candidates for election to the lower house of the parliament – [[Lok Sabha]] – must pay a security deposit of {{INR}}25,000. For [[Vidhan Sabha|state assembly]] elections the amount is {{INR}}10,000. For [[Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes]] candidates the amounts are 12,500 and 5,000 respectively. Any candidate who fails to secure more than one-sixth (16.7%) of the total valid votes cast in a [[first-past-the-post voting]] system would both forfeit his or her deposit and bail rights.<ref>{{cite web|title=FAQs – Contesting for Elections|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Contesting.aspx|work=Election Commission of India|access-date=8 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Electoral system in India|url=http://www.nios.ac.in/srsec317newE/317EL18.pdf|work=National Institute of Open schooling|access-date=8 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324154412/http://www.nios.ac.in/srsec317newE/317EL18.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Forfeited deposits fill EC coffers|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-04-24/delhi/28325676_1_security-deposit-candidates-election-commission|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926001023/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2004-04-24/delhi/28325676_1_security-deposit-candidates-election-commission|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 September 2012|access-date=8 September 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|date=24 April 2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Contesting.aspx |title=Election Commission of India |access-date=2012-01-30 |archive-date=2018-08-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820164205/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/Contesting.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Republic of Ireland ==
In the [[Republic of Ireland]], candidates for election to [[Dáil Éireann]] who have been nominated by political parties registered to contest Dáil elections, as well as non-party candidates who are able to provide detailed information of 30 electors in the constituency who have assented to their nomination, are not required to pay a deposit. Candidates who fail to meet either of these criteria, however, must pay a deposit of €500.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2007/en/act/pub/0014/print.html|title=Electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB)|website=Irishstatutebook.ie}}</ref> This follows a [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] ruling; the court found that the obligatory payment of deposits by all candidates was repugnant to the [[Constitution of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Collins |first=Geraldine |date=22 March 2002 |title=Law to abolish election deposit |work=Irish Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/law-to-abolish-election-deposit/26055940.html |access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>

Candidates who paid the deposit are returned if their final vote total, under the [[single transferable vote]] electoral system, exceeds one-quarter of the [[Droop quota]] for their constituency; i.e. in a four-seat constituency, the quota is 20% therefore the deposit threshold is 5%. This is also the threshold that candidates' votes must exceed in order for them to claim an election expenses allowance from the State.

== Japan ==
Japan's electoral deposit is the most expensive by a wide margin among the countries having such a system. Currently, a candidate for a constituency seat of the [[House of Representatives (Japan)|lower house]] or the [[House of Councillors|upper house]] must place a ¥3 million deposit. It is refunded provided that the lower house candidate gains one-tenth (10%) or more of the total valid votes cast in the constituency, or provided that the upper house candidate gains one-eighth (12.5%) or more of the total valid votes divided by the number of the seats for the constituency.

The deposit for a proportional seat of both houses is as high as ¥6 million and the refund would only depend on the number of seats that the party won. It is refunded in full amount if half or more of its candidates won seats. Local elections including gubernatorial, mayoral and council elections also have the deposit system with the amounts ranging from ¥150,000 to ¥3 million.

The deposit system in Japan, inspired by the [[Westminster system]], was introduced as part of the [[General Election Law]] of 1925 to prevent frivolous candidates from running simply for publicity or to disrupt election campaigns. However, it is sometimes attributed that its real purpose is to limit the number of candidates from opposition parties with lower financial power and make sure that those with such a power also hold political power, particularly the ruling [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP), which has ruled the country [[1955 System|since 1955]] except for two brief disruptions.<ref>[http://blog.japantimes.co.jp/yen-for-living/candidate-deposit-requirement-guarantees-same-faces-on-the-ballot/ Candidate deposit requirement guarantees same faces on the ballot] Yen for Living ([[The Japan Times]] blog) October 26, 2012</ref> [[:ja:上脇博之|Hiroshi Kamiwaki]], a professor specializing in the [[Constitution of Japan|Constitution]] at [[Kobe Gakuin University]], has argued that it is against Article 44 of the Constitution of Japan, which prohibits discrimination concerning the eligibility of lawmakers based on property and income.

== South Korea ==
In South Korea, candidates for election to a constituency seat of the [[National Assembly of South Korea|National Assembly]] must pay a deposit of 15 million won, which is reimbursed in full if they obtain at least 15% of the valid votes cast. Half of the amount is reimbursed if they receive over 10% but less than 15% of the votes. Candidates running for proportional seats are also required to pay the same amount, which can be reimbursed if the party represented wins at least one seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipu.org/parline/reports/2259_B.htm|title=IPU PARLINE database: REPUBLIC OF KOREA (Kuk Hoe), Electoral system|website=Ipu.org}}</ref>

== Malaysia ==
In [[Malaysia]], the deposit is RM 10,000 to contest a parliamentary seat and RM 5,000 to contest a state assembly seat (increased from RM 5,000 and RM 3,000, respectively, in 2004). Since 2004, it was required that each candidate provide an additional RM 5,000 deposit for cleaning up banners and posters after the election. This increase is seen by some as having led to the government winning a record number of seats without contest in 2004 (17 parliamentary seats were won without contest). The deposit is used to pay for infringements of election laws and is returned after polling day unless the candidate loses and fails to garner more than one-eighth of the votes cast.<ref>Rahman, Rashid A. (1994). ''The Conduct of Elections in Malaysia'', p. 133. Kuala Lumpur: Berita Publishing. {{ISBN|967-969-331-7}}.</ref>

== New Zealand ==
In New Zealand [[New Zealand House of Representatives|Parliament]] elections, registered parties may submit a party list on payment of a $1,000 deposit. This deposit is refunded if the party reaches 0.5% of the party votes. The deposit for an electorate candidate is $300 which is refunded if the candidate reaches 5%.

== Singapore ==
In Singapore, the election deposit per candidate for the [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]] is 8 per cent of the total allowances paid to a Member of Parliament in the preceding year, rounded to the nearest $500. The deposit varies in each case:
* In the previous general election on [[2015 Singaporean general election|2015]], and in the recent by-election in [[2016 Bukit Batok by-election|2016]], and the [[2020 Singaporean general election|2020 election]] the figures were [[SGD|S$]]14,500, S$13,500, and S$13,500 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/ge2020-elections-department-nomination-centres-jun-30-658186|title=GE2020: Elections Department releases list of 9 nomination centres|website=Channelnewsasia.com|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref>
* For Group Representative Constituencies, the deposit amount is multiplied by the number of MPs in that GRC.
* For Presidential Elections, the deposit amount is tripled. For instance, in [[2011 Singaporean presidential election|2011]], the figure was S$48,000 (which is a triple of S$16,000, the same deposit allocated for [[2011 Singaporean general election|GE2011]] held on the same year). In the [[2017 Singaporean presidential election|2017 elections]] (elected by [[Walkover|uncontested walkover]]),<ref>[http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/madam-halimah-yacob-prepares-to-hand-in-papers-for-presidential-election/ Halimah Yacob to be sworn in as Singapore's 8th President on Thursday: PMO] ([[Straits Times]] Newspaper) Retrieved September 13th, 2017.</ref> the figure was S$43,500 (which is a triple of S$14,500).<ref>[http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/nomination-day-presidential-election-sept-13-polls-be-held-10-days-later/ Presidential Election: Polling day set for Sept 23] ([[Today (Singapore newspaper)|Today]] Newspaper) Retrieved August 28, 2017</ref>
In all cases, candidates who fail to secure at least one-eighth (12.5%) of the valid votes in their constituencies will have their deposit forfeited.

== Ukraine ==
In Ukraine, during the presidential elections, candidates are required to pay a nomination deposit of ₴2,500,000 (approx. US$90,000) which is refunded only to those candidates that progress to the second round of voting.

== United Kingdom ==
Since 1985 the deposit in elections to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] has been £500, which must be handed in, in cash, [[banker's draft]], or other forms of [[legal tender]], when the candidate submits nomination papers. It is refunded if the candidate gains 5% or more of the valid votes cast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media/2814|title=Factsheet on standing at a UK Parliamentary general election (GB only)|website=Electoralcommission.org.uk|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/electing-mps/candidates/ |title=Who can stand as an MP? - UK Parliament |access-date=2017-04-18 |archive-date=2020-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112014534/https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/electing-mps/candidates/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Between 1918 and 1985, the cost was £150 — in 1918 this equates to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK|150|1918|{{Inflation-year|UK}}|r=-2}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}, when adjusted for [[inflation]]. By 1985, inflation had eroded the value to equate to £{{formatnum:{{inflation|UK|150|1985|{{Inflation-year|UK}}|r=-2}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}} pounds. The threshold for refunding the candidate's money was higher: winning one-eighth (12.5%) of valid votes cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionresources.org/uk/ |title=Election Resources on the Internet: Parliamentary Elections in the U.K. - Elections to the House of Commons |publisher=Electionresources.org |access-date=2010-08-01}}</ref>

Deposits must also be paid by candidates for election to:
*the [[Scottish Parliament]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/SP%20Part%202a%20-%20Standing%20at%20the%20constituency%20election_0.pdf |page=4 |title=Guidance for candidates and agents: Part 2a of 6 – Standing at the constituency election |date=March 2021 |publisher=The Electoral Commission (UK) |access-date=5 August 2023 }}</ref>
*the [[Senedd (Welsh Parliament)]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/Senedd%20Part%202a%20-%20Standing%20at%20the%20constituency%20election_0.pdf |title=Guidance for candidates and agents: Part 2a of 6 – Standing at the constituency election |date=February 2021 |publisher=The Electoral Commission (UK) |access-date=5 August 2023|page=13}}</ref>
*the [[London Assembly]],<ref>{{Cite web |title = Guidance for candidates and agents – Greater London Authority election, 1 May 2008 |publisher=The Electoral Commission |location=London, UK |year=2008 |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0007/43990/London-Candidates-and-Agents-web-optimised-2008.pdf |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209125003/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0007/43990/London-Candidates-and-Agents-web-optimised-2008.pdf |archive-date=9 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/electoral_commission_pdf_file/0014/14009/NIguidanceC_and_A2007_23880-17685__N__.pdf|title=Guidance for candidates and agents, Northern Ireland Assembly elections, March 2007|website=Electoralcommission.org.uk|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref>

A deposit of £500 is also required for mayoral elections in those English or Welsh local authorities led by an [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|executive mayor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/elections/mayoral_election_2009.aspx |title=Mayoral Election 2009 |publisher=Bedford.gov.uk |access-date=2010-08-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media/3336|title=Candidate guide - mayoral elections (Part 2a/6)|website=Electoralcommission.org.uk}}</ref>

A £5,000 deposit must be paid by candidates for election to:
*[[Police and Crime Commissioner]] of the [[police area]]s of [[England]] and [[Wales]],
*Mayor of a combined authority.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39210702|title=Greater Manchester mayor: Communist League candidate Peter Clifford pulls out of race|work=BBC News|date=8 March 2017}}</ref>

A £10,000 deposit must be paid by candidates for election to the [[Mayor of London|Mayoralty of London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-candidate/nominations|title=Nominations | London Elects|website=Londonelects.org.uk|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref>

The loss of a deposit by a candidate for a major party is regarded as an embarrassment.<ref>[http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/uks-tory-libdem-coalition-avert-by-election-embarrassment-can-forge-ahead-shrinking-government/article/139461 UK's Tory-LibDem coalition avert by-election embarrassment, can forge ahead shrinking government], ''Washington Examiner'', 14 January 2011</ref> The deposit has been criticised for making it difficult for smaller parties to engage in politics and the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] has suggested scrapping them for general elections.<ref name="bbc.co.uk" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30790012|title=Scrap general election deposits, says watchdog|work=BBC News|date=13 January 2015}}</ref> However, many smaller parties from across the political spectrum participate in elections, including single issue groups and local independent candidates as well as joke and novelty parties. MPs have also defended deposits as preventing abuse of the electoral system, and being used for free publicity by those who are not seriously contending the seat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1431894/MPs-oppose-scrapping-of-election-deposits.html|title=MPs oppose scrapping of election deposits|website=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=24 May 2022}}</ref>

Deposits are not required to be paid for candidates standing in council elections.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://new.surreycc.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-and-committees/how-to-become-a-councillor |title=Surrey County Council - How to become a councillor |date=2 April 2015 |website= |access-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110805/http://new.surreycc.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-and-committees/how-to-become-a-councillor |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Elections]]

Election deposit - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:33, 27 August 2023