{"id":76011,"date":"2026-01-27T14:49:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solopress.com\/blog\/?p=76011"},"modified":"2026-01-27T14:49:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:49:11","slug":"a-guide-to-royal-mail-candidate-mail-and-el1-banding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solopress.com\/blog\/print-inspiration\/a-guide-to-royal-mail-candidate-mail-and-el1-banding\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to Royal Mail Candidate Mail and EL1 Banding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Royal Mail Candidate Mail is a scheme that provides a free mail out of election materials for candidates standing in UK Parliamentary General or by-elections and devolved parliamentary elections, including the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd. Solopress supports candidates and agents by producing compliant print and preparing it in line with Royal Mail requirements, helping campaigns reduce the risk of delays, errors and unnecessary rework.<\/p>\n

We have supported hundreds of election campaigns with high-quality, compliant print. This guide sets out what is required at each stage of the process, from early planning through to Royal Mail handover, and explains how to order your materials with Solopress in a way that aligns with those requirements.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Royal Mail administers the Candidate Mail scheme and oversees artwork approval, documentation and delivery. The information below is intended to help candidates and agents understand how the process works in practice and how Solopress fits into it. For detailed or definitive rules on eligibility and compliance, you should always follow official guidance from the Electoral Commission <\/span><\/a>and<\/span> Royal Mail<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Candidate Mail?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Candidate Mail is a Royal Mail service that allows eligible candidates to send one freepost election communication to every elector, or every household in the case of unaddressed mail. The scheme forms part of the statutory freepost election address and operates under Royal Mail\u2019s Candidate Mail Terms and Conditions and relevant electoral legislation.<\/p>\n

All material sent under the scheme must relate solely to the election concerned, comply with electoral law and meet Royal Mail\u2019s technical standards for size, weight, presentation and documentation. Only mail that has been checked, approved and presented correctly will be accepted and delivered by Royal Mail.<\/p>\n

\"Election<\/a><\/p>\n

Who can use Candidate Mail<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Candidate Mail is available to candidates standing in:<\/p>\n