Contact

Electoral Services Unit
PO Box 207
Town Hall
Rochdale OL16 1EW

Tel: 01706 924758
Fax: 01706 924848
Email: Electoral Services

Extenal links

Standing as a candidate

You can stand as a candidate if you are:

  • A British citizen, or a citizen of the Irish Republic, the Commonwealth or another member state of the European Union; and
  • At least 18 years old on the day you submit your nomination papers.

You also have to meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • You are a registered local government elector in the Rochdale borough, both on the day you are nominated and election day.  You can check whether you are registered by using the contacts
  • You have lived in the borough for a period of 12 months prior to nomination
  • Your main or only place of work has been in the borough for a period of 12 months prior to nominations
  • You have occupied, either as an owner or a tenant, any land or premises in the borough for a period of 12 months prior to nominations.

Reasons why you can not stand for election

You cannot be a candidate if you:

  • Are employed by or hold a paid office in the Council (including any joint boards or committees)
  • Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order (please note: this disqualification was introduced from 1 April 2004)
  • Have been sentenced to a prison term of three months or more, without the option of a fine, at any time during the last five years
  • Have been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court
  • Have been disqualified following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for England
  • Have been disqualified following the issue of a certificate by a local authority auditor relating to the loss of more than £2000.

There are also a number of politically restricted local authority posts (for example, senior positions such as the head of paid service or statutory chief officer).  If you hold one of these posts, you will be disqualified from election to any local authority in Great Britain.

Nominations

You can be nominated by a registered political party or you can stand as an independent candidate.

You need to collect a nomination pack from the Electoral Services Section and then complete and submit the various forms.

Nomination Form

This must contain your full name and home address and a description of  who you are standing for. If you are standing as a candidate of a registered political party, you must include an authorised description from the party of not more than six words. If you are standing as an independent candidate, your description can either be 'Independent' or left blank.

Ten eligible electors from the ward in which you are standing must then sign the nomination paper and give their elector number.  Care should be taken when completing this form as any mistakes may invalidate it.

This form should then be delivered to the Electoral Services Section no later than noon on the 19th working day before the day of election.

Consent to nomination

A candidate must also complete a form giving their consent to nomination in writing.  Without this, the nomination is not valid.  This must be given within one calendar month before the last day for delivery on nomination papers.  The forms sets out the grounds on which the candidate is qualified to stand and needs signing by the candidate in the presence of a witness.  The signature, name and address of the witness is also required.

Certificate of authorisation

If you are standing as a party candidate, you will also need a signed certificate of authorisation issued by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of that party.

Emblems

Candidates authorised to use a registered party political description can also include the party emblem on the ballot paper next to their name.

This request must be made in writing by the candidate and must be submitted at the same time as the nomination paper.  Any request must state the name of the political party and a description of the emblem to be used.  Candidates are not allowed to use any variation on a registered emblem.

Agents

An election agent is a person responsible for the proper management of the candidature and for the control of any expenditure.  There is no statutory requirement to appoint an agent.  If you do not submit an appointment of an election agent by noon on the 16th working day before the day of the election, you will have to represent yourself.

Limits on spending

This is determined by the number of electors in the area in which you are standing.  You are allowed to spend £600 plus an additional 5p for every registered elector in your ward.

Any money you spend on goods or services which you use once you have become a candidate will count against this limit and must be declared.

You will have to account for all your expenditure at the end of the election and have to submit a return of your expenses within 35 days of the declaration of the result.

Dates and deadlines

There are several dates and deadlines that you will need to remember during the election process

  • Notice of election
  • Deadlines for nominations
  • Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll
  • Deadline for postal and proxy votes
  • Polling day
  • Deadline for return of election expenses

The timetable will be available for collection with the nomination pack.

The Electoral Commission

The Electoral Commission has published a guidance manual to assist prospective candidates in the nomination process, the election campaign, election day itself and election expenses. 

The electoral commission