In some states the deposit is relatively low (for instance, according to a comparative study from 2003, the deposit in France was $180, and in Ireland $350), but this does reach less modest rates in others (UK, $735). Deposits are usually returnable if a candidate/party gets some minimal share of votes (for instance, 5% in the UK). Nonetheless, when high deposits are combined across several candidacies such a requirement may work as a significant deterrent, or threshold, for serious contenders with limited financial resources. Norris thus exemplifies: “if they lost every deposit by falling below the minimum 5% threshold, it would cost the greens almost half a million dollars to contest every seat in a UK general election”.