Election Imprint Guide

At instantprint, we want to ensure that your campaign goes exactly as you planned. Having an imprint protects you and ensures that you’re abiding by the correct laws. Which is why we wanted to provide you with all the details you need to ensure you’re compliant with your campaigns!

Updates to Our instantprint Imprint Policy

• For anything we deem to be political, we will require you to have an imprint as standard.
• Your imprint must include printed by and promoted by - more details below.

Our skilled studio team are trained to spot and proof imprints and will be in touch should they find an issue or a missing imprint. Our team can also add an imprint for you, however, this may delay your order as it will require a proof to be sent out before we can go ahead and send your artwork to print.

Top tip: To avoid any delays to your order, please make sure there is already an imprint on your election artwork.

I’m Not Sure if I Need an Imprint?

If you don't believe your print needs an imprint please contact us at office@instantprint.co.uk and we can look into this further.

Our team will aim to respond to your email within 2 hours, but please note that if we have to get in touch with the electoral commission, this may take longer.

What Is an Imprint?

According to The Electoral Commission, an imprint must be added to any and all printed marketing materials that can be categorised as election material. An imprint includes certain details that show who is responsible for the mailing.

An imprint basically means that whoever created the election marketing material, such as a poster or a flyer, must ensure that you can clearly see who is responsible for that print. This is to ensure that there is complete transparency with who created the marketing material.

Under the Political Parties Election and Referendums Act 2000, there are rules about putting imprints on materials. These rules apply at all times for Non-Party Campaigners.

On printed materials, you must include the address of the printer (us) and the promoter (usually the person placing the print order). 

Ideally, the promoter will be registered with the Electoral Commission as a non-party campaigner, also known as a recognised third party. If you’re acting on behalf of an organisation, you should also include the name and address of the organisation in the imprint.

Example of an Imprint

Printed by:
instantprint,
Unit A, Brookfields Park, Manvers Way, Manvers, Rotherham, S63 5DR
Promoted by: (Promoters name) on behalf of
(the campaign group),
Both of (Home or office address).

Where Do I Put My Imprint?

Ensure to include your imprint on the face of the document if it’s single sided, or if the majority of the information is on one side. If it’s multi-sided, such as a booklet, then you must ensure you place your imprint on the front or back page.

It’s good practice to also include your imprint on all electronic materials, such as your website and emails, plus, it will make it easier for people to get in touch with you if they wish.

Legalities

If you are publishing in a newspaper, then your advert doesn’t need to include the printer’s name and address.

But please note: Not including an imprint on printed election material is an offence.

More information and guidance for Non-Party Campaigners can be found here:
http://www.electoralcommission.org. uk/i-am-a/party-or-campaigner/nonparty-campaigners.

Additional Help

Other Rules and Regulations

If you intend to incorporate direct marketing methods into your campaign, then it’s vital that you understand the rules and regulations involved, to do it successfully. Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) there are also specific rules which you must comply with when it comes to direct marketing.

For more information, our blog: The Marketing Rules and Regulations for Election Campaigns, can be found here.