How to become a Councillor

To qualify as a candidate at a local government election in England, you must be:

• 18 years or older on the day of nomination and either:
  • A British citizen;
  • or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;
  • or an eligible Commonwealth citizen;
  • or a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights.

A prospective candidate must meet one of four qualifications:

• Be a registered elector for the Local Authority area;
• or, for the whole of the previous 12 months have:
  • Lived in that area.
  • Occupied, as owner or tenant, any land or premises in that area.
  • For that 12 months, have had their principal or only place of work in that area.

For more information on candidates’ qualifications, visit: Qualifications (Electoral Commission).

A prospective candidate must also not be disqualified. Details of what can disqualify a person from standing as candidate are on the nomination forms and the Electoral Commission’s website, visit: Disqualifications (Electoral Commission).

Any person who wants to stand as a candidate must complete this paperwork:

• Nomination Form.
• Home Address Form. 
• Consent to Nomination.
• Appointment of Election Agent (optional).
• Also, if you are a candidate for a registered political party you will also need to submit:
  • Certificate of Authorisation.
  • Request to use the Party Emblem.

The nomination paperwork must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer by 4pm, nineteen working days before polling day. The required date will be on the Notice of Election. 

If you want a set of nomination papers:

• contact: Electoral Services;
• or download from: Resources for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England (Electoral Commission).

After the election your election agent (or you, if you have not appointed one) must submit to the Returning Officer:

• A return that shows your election expenses.
• A declaration of your election expenses.
• A declaration by your election agent (if appointed) as to your election expenses.

The return must be submitted within 35 days from when the result of the poll is declared. 

By law, the Returning Officer must make the return and declaration(s) available for public inspection. This will be for a period of two years from the date of submission.

For more guidance, please visit:  Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England (Electoral Commission).

To qualify as a candidate at a parish council election in England, you must be:

• At least 18 years old on the day of nomination;
• and either:
  • a British citizen;
  • or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland;
  • or an eligible Commonwealth citizen;
  • or a qualifying EU citizen or an EU citizen with retained rights.

A prospective candidate must also meet one of four qualifications:

• Be a registered elector for the Town or Parish area;
• or for the whole of the previous 12 months have:
  • lived in, or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of, that area;
  • or occupied, as owner or tenant, any land or premises in that area;
  • or for that 12 months, have had their principal or only place of work in that area.

For more information on a candidate’s qualifications, visit: Qualifications (Electoral Commission).

A prospective candidate must also not be disqualified. Details of what can disqualify a person from standing as candidate are on the nomination forms and the Electoral Commission’s website, visit: Disqualifications (Electoral Commission).

Any person who wants to stand as a candidate must complete this paperwork:

• Nomination Form.
• Home Address Form. 
• Consent to Nomination.

If you are a candidate for a registered political party, you will also need to submit:

• A Certificate of Authorisation;
• and a Request to use the Party Emblem.

The nomination paperwork must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer by 4pm, nineteen working days before polling day. The required date will be on the Notice of Election. 

If you want a set of nomination papers:

• contact: Electoral Services;
• or download from:  Resources for Candidates at Parish council elections in England | Electoral Commission (Electoral Commission).

After the election, you must submit to the Returning Officer:

• A return showing your election expenses;
• and a declaration as to your election expenses.

These must be submitted within 28 days from when the result of poll is declared.

By law, the Returning Officer must make the return and declaration available for public inspection. This will be for a period of two years from the date of submission.