Standing for Election - May 2023
A candidate and agent briefing will be held on Tuesday 7 March 2023 for both district and parish candidates. For more information, please contact the Electoral Services department using the contact form at the bottom of this page.
Am I eligible to stand for election?
To stand for election, on the day of nomination, you must be:
- 18 or over
- Be a UK, EU or Commonwealth citizen
You must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
- Be registered to vote as a local government elector in the area
- Occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area
- Your main or only place of work is in the local authority area
- Live in the local authority area
You cannot stand if:
- You work for the Council
- You hold a politically restricted post for another local authority
- You are bankrupt
- You have served a prison sentence (including suspended sentences) of 3 months or more within 5 years before the election
- You have been disqualified under any legislation relating to corrupt or illegal electoral practices
Standing as a Councillor for a political party
The majority of people become Councillors as a result of joining a political party.
However, you do not need to be a member of a political party to stand as a Councillor. You will be classed as an independent.
If you are thinking of standing as a candidate for a particular political party then you will need to be a member of that party's local organisation.
What do I do next?
Once you have decided to stand for election as a Councillor, you will need to contact the Electoral Services team who will provide you with a Nomination Pack for completion.
You will need to be proposed and then seconded by another person.
The independent group of the Local Government Association (LGA) has prepared a helpful guide for Councillors and candidates (please see below).
Full details of the electoral process including the nomination procedure are available on request using the contact form below.