Collecting information about candidates

You will probably ask people to fill in an application form when registering their interest in becoming a candidate. You should think about whether the information you are asking for is necessary for the role, whether the form is inclusive, and who in the party has access to the personal details of potential candidates.

For example, women who are victims of gender-based violence will often be unable to widely share their home address for personal safety reasons and may be discouraged from standing simply because you ask for this on the registration form. You should consider whether it is necessary for all members of the selection team to have access to the personal data of candidates and clearly state how the information collected from candidates will be used. In addition, any forms you ask people to fill in should always be available in large print and alternative formats, and people should be able to fill these out and submit them electronically.

You might be using the information you collect to do background checks on potential candidates or assess their suitability for the position. Be aware that for some people, revealing person information may be a difficult process. For example, people from the trans community might not identify with a previous name. You should take steps to ensure that information about candidates is kept confidential and during selection only ask candidates questions which are directly relevant to their skills or the role of being an elected representative or that you need to know in order to offer support or prepare for potential media attention.

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