Councillors
If you'd like to stand as a candidate in a local election, you can download a nomination pack or contact the Electoral Services Unit to collect one.
Your nomination pack will include:
- Nomination paper: you must get one person to agree to propose your nomination paper, another person to agree to second the proposal and 8 other people to assent to it. All of these people must be on the electoral register for the area where you want to stand for election. You should deliver your nomination form to the Electoral Services Unit no later than noon on the 19th working day before the day of the election.
- Consent form: you must also sign and submit a consent to nomination form which is a declaration that you are qualified to stand and this must be witnessed.
- Appointment of election agent: there's 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'll have to represent yourself.
- Timetable: showing the events leading up to the election.
- Code of conduct and guidance: explaining the dos and don'ts of the election campaign.
- Registers of electors: shows the electors for the ward you're standing in.
- Certificate of authorisation: if you're standing as a party candidate, you also need to get the certificate of authorisation signed by or on behalf of the registered nominating officer of that party.
View and download a nomination pack
Guidance
Find out what councillors do, how to be a councillor, download a step-by-step guide or take the e-learning module to help you decide if being a councillor is for you.