Guidance

Security guidance for elections

This collection of guidance provides advice on good security practice for candidates and those in local authorities.

From:
Cabinet Office
Published
25 March 2021
Last updated
17 April 2024 — See all updates

Documents

Cyber Guidance for High-Risk Individuals

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/defending-democracy/guidance-for-high-risk-individuals

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When it goes too far - Joint Police Guidance for candidates in elections (PDF, 470KB)

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2021-03/Joint%20Guidance%20for%20Candidates%20in%20Elections%202021_0.pdf

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Social Media Security Information for Candidates

HTML

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Election security for polling stations and counting venues (PDF)

PDF, 2.23 MB, 32 pages

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Election security for polling stations and counting venues (HTML)

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Details

For cyber security we recommend candidates and political staff read:

  1. Cyber Guidance for High-Risk Individuals - advice from the National Cyber Security Centre on how individuals can protect their accounts and devices.
  2. Social Media Security Information for Candidates  - guidance from social media platforms on how to secure your account and report incidents of online abuse.
  3. CyberAware - guidance on how to stay secure online, including access to a free, tailored cyber action plan.
  4. Social Media: How to Use it Safely - guidance on using privacy settings across social media platforms to manage your digital footprint. The ‘spotting and reporting fake accounts’ section may be of particular interest.
  5. Guidance for Individuals in Politics - cyber security guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre for staff members in political parties.

For protective security we recommend candidates and political staff read:

6. Working with Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) / ProtectUK – Guidance on how to access security briefings for candidates via your local Counter Terrorism Security Advisor.

7. When it Goes too Far - Joint Police Guidance for Candidates in Elections (PDF, 470KB) - advice on recognising and responding to intimidatory behaviour.

8. The Blue Book: A Guide to Personal Security - advice from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office for how to stay safe at home, at work, on-the move and online.

9. Think Before You Link (TBYL) - an app developed by the National Protective Security Authority to help users of social media and professional networking sites better identify the hallmarks of fake profiles used by state and other malicious actors.

10. My Digital Footprint – guidance from the National Protective Security Authority on how individuals can be more mindful of their digital footprint

We recommend Returning Officers and local authority staff read:

  1. Cyber Guidance for Organisations Coordinating Elections - advice for organisations involved in administering UK elections on good cyber security practices to protect systems and data. 
  2. Guidance for Returning Officers - Electoral Commission guidance for Returning Officers split by countries of the United Kingdom, and type of election.
  3. Election Security for Polling Stations and Counting Venues  - guidance to assist Returning Officers develop a security plan to avoid major disruption to the electoral process.
  4. Protective Security Guidance for Local Authorities – state threats guidance from the National Protective Security (NPSA). This can be accessed on gov.uk by anyone with a gov.uk email address. Or on NPSAs extranet.

Other Useful Guidance:

  1. Defending Democracy – a collection of National Cyber Security Centre material which brings together expanded guidance to raise awareness of the cyber threats to democratic processes, institutions, and the people involved in them.  
  2. Guidance for Political Organisations -This guidance outlines the cyber threat to UK political organisations and sets out measures to prevent successful attacks.   
  3. Phishing Attacks – Defending your Organisation – Advice from the National Cyber Security Centre on protecting your organisation from email phishing attacks.

General Guidance for Candidates to Stand for Election

Departmental co-owners

Published 25 March 2021
Last updated 17 April 2024 + show all updates

  1. Added additional links in the For Protective Security we recommend candidates and political staff read section.

  2. Updated with the new version of: Election security for polling stations and counting venues

  3. Updated to correct an issue with the document: Election security for polling stations and counting venues

  4. Updated the guidance with the most up to date information and links to external guidance.

  5. Added a new section called: Guidance for candidates on submitting nomination papers

  6. Added the following document: Election security for polling stations and counting venues

  7. Updated the document: Online security information for candidates to include a section on TikTok

  8. The Electoral Commission has updated its core guidance for Returning Officers to support the delivery of the May 2022 polls.

  9. First published.

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