Recital (14)

It should be possible for the Member State of residence to check that Union citizens who have expressed a desire to exercise their right to stand as a candidate have not been deprived of that right in their home Member State. Where a Member State receives a request to that effect from the Member State of residence, it should provide the necessary confirmation within a time limit allowing for the admissibility of the candidacy to be effectively assessed. The personal data being exchanged may be processed only for that purpose. Given the fundamental importance of electoral rights, failure by the home Member State to provide timely information on the status of a Union citizen should not result in the deprivation of the right to stand as a candidate in the Member State of residence. In cases where the relevant information is provided at a later stage, the Member State of residence should ensure, by means of appropriate measures and in accordance with the procedures provided for by its national law, that Union citizens deprived of the right to stand as a candidate in their home Member State who were registered as candidates or have already been elected are prevented from being elected or from exercising their mandate.