Candidate's guide to the election process

The following are general guidelines for election candidates.

Qualification as a candidate

To qualify as a candidate, you must be aged 18 or over at the date of nomination and a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen. For European and local elections, members of the European Union are entitled to stand, providing they live in the locality where they are standing.

Disqualifications

You cannot stand as a candidate if you:

• Are employed by the council
• Hold a politically restricted post
• Have been declared bankrupt
• Have been sentenced to three months or more in prison in the five years before the election
• Have been disqualified for illegal or corrupt practices

Nomination

If you want to be elected as a district councillor you must be proposed and seconded, then "assented to" (officially agreed) by a further eight electors within the ward in which you want to stand. Parish councillors only need a proposer and a seconder.

If you are standing on behalf of a political party, your agent will provide a nomination pack and help you complete the form.

If you are standing as an independent candidate, please contact our Electoral Services team for a nomination pack (see below).

Election timetable

Note: all dates refer to working days.

• Publication of notice of election: by 25th day before polling day
• Delivery of nomination papers to returning officer: anytime after publication of notice of election but before noon on 19th day before polling day
• Publication of statement of persons nominated: noon on 17th day before polling day
• Withdrawal of candidature: noon on 16th day before polling day
• Appointment of election agent: noon on 16th day before polling day
• Notice of poll: 6th day before polling day
• Appointment of polling or counting agent: 5th day before polling day

Election expenses

There are strict rules about the amount of money you can spend on your campaign. Details can be found in the nomination packs. Your return and declaration of expenses must be delivered within 35 days after the result of the election.

After the election

If you are elected, your first duty is to sign the declaration of acceptance of office register to say you will accept office. We will provide special induction sessions to successful candidates.

Corrupt and illegal election practices

A person found guilty of a corrupt practice may be imprisoned for up to one year, fined, or both. They will also be disqualified for five years from being registered as an elector, voting or holding public office. If an elected candidate is found guilty by an election court, the election will be void.

You may also find these pages useful:

Being a councillor
Elections and voting