IV. THE PROCESS OF PUTTING FORWARD CANDIDATES
AND SETTING UP LISTS

IV.1. Notifying the nominating organisation

At the elections, independent candidates may run and candidates may be put forward by political parties, social organisations and minority organisations (referred to jointly as “nominating organisation”). Organisations registered by court, pursuant to Act XXXIII of 1989 (on the Operation and Financial Functioning of Political Parties), are deemed as political parties; social and minority organisations are subject to Act II of 1989 (on Association) and shall be also registered by the court.
Political parties or other social (minority) organisations recorded in the court’s register may become nominating organisations.
On behalf of the nominating organisation, only those may act who are indicated as the representatives of the organisation in the court registration of the organisation, or who have a written authorisation issued by it.
It is a condition of putting forward a candidate that the nominating organisation that intends to put forward a candidate at the elections is obliged to notify this intention in advance (prior to putting forward the candidate) to one of the election committees:

- the nominating organisation that intends to put forward candidates only at one settlement may initiate that it is registered at the local election committee;

- the nominating organisation that intends to put forward candidates at several settlements of one county or only within the territory of the capital, but in several districts, at the territorial election committee;

- the nominating organisation that intends to put forward candidates in several counties, and in the territory of the capital and some county at the National Election Committee.

Nominating organisations that intend to enter a common candidate, list shall be notified separately.
Once the competent election committee has registered the nominating organisation and issued a certificate of such registration, from then on the nominating organisation is entitled to put forward candidates in any of the constituencies.
As a matter of fact, the rules of notifying nominating organisations shall not apply to independent candidates.

IV.2. Putting forward candidates and setting up lists

The conditions of putting forward candidates and setting up lists are different with respect to specific types of elections.

IV.2.1. Electing the mayor

At the election of the mayor, Hungarian citizens who have collected the proposal coupons containing the proposals of a defined number of voters of the settlement (district of the capital) may become candidates for mayor. The number of proposals required for being nominated is as follows:

- At settlements with 10,000 or less inhabitants the proposal of at least 3% of voters;

- At settlements with 10,001-100,000 inhabitants the proposal of at least 2% of voters but minimum 300 voters;

- At settlements with more than 100,000 the proposal of at least 1% of voters but minimum 2,000 voters

is required.

The specific number of proposals required is published by the local election office the way it is customary locally simultaneously with publicly displaying the register.
If a voter is proposed for candidate for mayor at several places within one type of nomination, he/she shall declare which nomination he/she accepts. Failure to make such statement will entail the termination of all of his/her nominations.
If at a settlement or district of the capital two or more voters having an identical name intend to stand as candidate for mayor, the person notified later is obliged to make sure, by using letters or another first name, that he/she can be differentiated from the candidate notified earlier.
At settlements with less than 3 000 inhabitants candidates for mayor shall declare whether, in the event thy are elected, they want to fulfil their mandate as the mayor as a full-time job or as a social mandate.

IV.2.2. Electing municipality representatives

The system of electing municipality representatives is different at settlements with 10,000 or less inhabitants and at settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants:

- at settlements with 10,000 or less inhabitants, the person who has collected the proposal coupons containing the proposal of at least 1% of the voters of the settlement (district of the capital) may become a candidate on small list;

- at settlements and in districts of the capital with more than 10,000 inhabitants, the person who has collected the proposal coupons containing the proposal of at least 1% of the voters of the single mandate constituency may become a candidate in single mandate constituency;

- compensation lists may be set up by nominating organisations that have put forward candidates in single mandate constituency in at least one-fourth of the single mandate constituencies of the settlement (district of the capital). The number of candidates will include the candidates put forward by the given nominating organisation on its own and, out of the common candidates, the fraction of candidates that falls on the given nominating organisation (the latter shall be ascertained separately for each common candidate, in proportion to the nominating organisations). No fraction of candidates is generated with regard to the candidates that support the setting up of a common list.

The particular number of necessary proposals and nominations in single mandate constituencies required for setting up compensation lists will be published by the local election office the way it is customary locally.
Candidates on small list and in single mandate constituencies shall be notified to the local election committee with the collected proposal coupons attached.
On the ballot paper of the election of municipality representatives, it is possible to indicate the abbreviation of the name of the nominating organisation, and the version of the name of the minority nominating organisation in the language of the minority (in such case the name of the minority shall be also indicated).
The name of the minority candidate can be indicated in the language of the minority on the ballot paper.
At settlements with more than 10,000 inhabitants the compensation list may be notified to the local election committee. Maximum three times as many candidates may be presented on the list as many seats can be obtained. The order of the candidates included in the list is determined by the nominating organisation; after notification the order may not be altered. If any of the candidates is eliminated from the list, he/she will be replaced by the candidate coming next.
Voters may undertake only one candidacy for representative. It is an exception that the same voter may be a candidate in a single mandate constituency and on a compensation list simultaneously. If a voter, apart from the above exception, has been proposed for candidate for representative at several places, then he/she shall declare which nomination he/she accepts. Failure to make such statement will entail the termination of all of his/her nominations.
If at a small list settlement or in a single mandate constituency two or more voters having an identical name intend to stand as candidate for representative, the person notified later is obliged to make sure, by using letters or another first name, that he/she can be differentiated from the candidate notified earlier.
Minority compensation lists shall not be notified because they are compiled by the local election office ex officio. If any of the minority candidates does not intend to run on a minority compensation list, he/she shall signal this to the LEC.
If the nominating organisations or the independent candidates of two or more minorities intend to set up a common minority compensation list, it is also subject to notification. The statement made in this respect shall be signed by all of the nominating organisations putting forward the candidates of the minority involved on minority compensation list and by all of the independent minority candidates.

IV.2.3. Electing the members of county conventions

The members of county conventions are elected in two constituencies, on lists independent of one another. One constituency contains settlements with a population below 10,000, the other one settlements with a population over 10,000, except for cities having county rights.
Nominating organisations that have collected the proposal coupons containing the proposals of at least 0.3% of the voters of the constituency may set up a list at the elections. (For a nominating organisation to set up a list in both constituencies, it is necessary to meet the requirements regarding collecting proposal coupons and notifying the list separately for each constituency.)
The particular number of proposals will be published by the local election office the way it is customary locally.
The county list may be notified to the territorial election committee, with the form containing the particulars of the candidates included in the list and the collected proposal coupons attached.
Maximum three times as many candidates may be submitted on the list as many seats can be obtained. The order of the candidates included in the list is determined by the nominating organisation; after notification the order may not be altered. If any of the candidates is eliminated, he/she will be replaced with the candidate coming next.
If a voter has been proposed for candidate on several county lists, then he/she shall declare which nomination he/she accepts. Failure to make such statement will entail the termination of all of his/her nominations.

IV.2.4. Electing the members of the metropolitan convention

The members of the metropolitan convention are elected in constituencies that make up the entirety of the capital from lists. Nominating organisations that have set up compensation lists in at least six districts of the capital may present a list.
The metropolitan list shall be notified to the Metropolitan Election Committee, with the particulars of the candidates included in the list and the certificates certifying the setting up of the proper number of compensation lists, issued by local election offices and local election committees attached.
Maximum 198 candidates may be put forward on the list. The order of the candidates included in the list is determined by the nominating organisation; after notification the order may not be altered. If any of the candidates is eliminated from the list, he/she will be replaced by the candidate coming next.
If a candidate has been proposed for candidate on several metropolitan lists, then he/she shall declare which nomination he/she accepts. Failure to make such statement will entail the termination of all of his/her nominations.

IV.2.5. Electing the Mayor of the capital

At the election of the Mayor of the capital, those who have collected the proposal coupons containing the proposal of at least 0.5% of the voters of the capital may become candidate for Mayor.
The particular number of necessary proposals will be published by the Metropolitan Election Office the way it is customary locally.
The candidate shall be notified to the Metropolitan Election Committee with the collected proposal coupons attached.

IV.2.6. Electing local minority municipalities

At the election of the representatives of local governments for municipalities, those who have collected the proposal coupons containing the proposal of at least 5 voters of the settlement or the district of the capital may become candidates.
Candidates shall be notified to the local election committee with the collected proposal coupons attached.
If a voter has been proposed for candidate for representative of the local government for minorities at several places, then he/she shall declare which nomination he/she accepts. Failure to make such statement will entail the termination of all of his/her nominations.
If at a settlement or district of the capital two or more voters having an identical name intend to stand as candidate for representative of the local government for minorities, the person notified later is obliged to make sure, by using letters or another first name, that he/she can be differentiated from the candidate notified earlier.
On the ballot paper of the election of representatives of the local government for minorities, the abbreviation of the name of the nominating organisation and the name of the minority nominating organisation in the language of the minority may be indicated. The name of the minority candidate may be, on request, indicated also in the mother language of the minority on the ballot paper.

IV.3. Collecting proposal coupons

Candidates for mayor, candidates for representative from small list and in single mandate constituencies, county lists, candidates for Mayor and candidates for representative of the local government for minorities may be proposed on proposal coupons. Proposal coupons will be forwarded to voters by election offices.
Separate proposal coupons serve various types of elections.
Filled in proposal coupons may be collected from voters by the nominating organisation or the representative of the candidate. When proposing, voters will write their own particulars and the first name(s) and family name of the person proposed for candidate (at the election of the county municipality there is no such column), the name of the nominating organisation, and, in the event of an independent candidate, the phrase “independent candidate” on the ballot paper. A further condition of the validity of the proposal is that voters sign the proposal coupon.
If in the small list or mixed election scheme a candidate runs as a minority candidate, this fact shall be indicated on the ballot paper. Failing which the candidate may not be officially considered a minority candidate, and will not be entitled to receive benefits due to minority candidates when allocating seats. Also, the name of the minority has to be indicated on the proposal coupon of the representative of the local government for minorities.
While collecting proposal coupons, it is prohibited to harass voters. Proposal coupons may be collected anywhere, except for:

- at the place of work of the proposer or the person collecting proposals during working hours, or while he/she is fulfilling his/her obligation to perform work arising from employment or other legal relation aimed at performing work;

- from persons in service relation with the armed forces and police authorities, at the place of service or while performing tasks of service;

- on means of public transport;

- in the office of state or municipality bodies.

It is prohibited to give or offer advantages to the proposer or with respect to him/her to others for the proposal.
Anyone who violating the rules of the process of proposing obtains proposals with force, threat, deceit or pecuniary advantage commits crime and may be given maximum three years’ imprisonment.
Proposals collected by violating the above rules are invalid. Also, all of the proposals of the voter who has proposed the same candidate several times or has proposed more than one candidate within the same type of proposing will be invalid.
It is prohibited to make copies of the proposal coupons. Proposal coupons not submitted shall be annihilated, and minutes of this action shall be drawn up. The minutes shall be delivered to the local, or the territorial election office. The violation of these provisions are deemed as unauthorised handling of data.

IV.4. Common candidates, lists

Several nominating organisations registered separately on the basis of notification may also enter candidates and lists jointly. This is subject to the condition that the name of all of the co-operating nominating organisations are indicated on the proposal coupon.
Common compensation lists may be set up by nominating organisations that have put forward the proper number of common candidates in single mandate constituencies. Presenting a common metropolitan list is subject to the condition of setting up common compensation lists in at least six districts of the capital.
The common delegate of the nominating organisations is entitled to make statements regarding the common candidate or the common list.