Candidates were required to obtain nominations from at least 100 MPs before the nomination deadline at 2 p.m. on 24 October. With 357 Conservative MPs at the time of election, this meant there could have only been, at most, three candidates.[54] Had three candidates fulfilled the nomination threshold, a ballot of Conservative MPs would have been held to eliminate one that afternoon.[55] An indicative vote by Conservative MPs between the final two would have then been held.