Standing for election

Councillors are elected to the local Council to represent the local community.

How to become a candidate

You can become a candidate (someone standing for election) as a member of a political party. Contact details for political parties can be found using the Electoral Commission register of Political Parties.

You can also stand as an independent (not affiliated to a political party). For further information about standing as an independent candidate contact:

The Independent Group
Local Government Association
LGA House
18 Smith Square
London SW1P 3HZ

Tel: 020 7664 3224
Email: independent.grouplga@local.gov.uk

Who can stand as a candidate

To stand as a candidate at a local election in England you must:

• be at least 18 years old
• be a British Citizen, and eligible Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of any member state of the European Union

AND meet at least one of the following qualifications:

• be registered as a local government elector for the local authority area in which you wish to stand; or
• have occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination; or
• your main or only place of work during the last twelve months has been in the local authority area; or
• you have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the last twelve months

You will not be able to stand as a candidate if:

• you are employed by the local authority you want to be elected to, or you hold a paid office under the authority (including any joint boards or committees)
• you hold a politically restricted post
• you are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
• you are the mayor for a combined authority area that the local authority is a part of
• you have been sentenced to a prison term of three months or more (including a suspended sentence), without the option of a fine, during the five years before polling day and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or applications in respect of the conviction has passed
• you have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act 1983
• the disqualification for an illegal practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for three years
• the disqualification for a corrupt practice begins from the date a person has been reported guilty by an election court or convicted and lasts for five years
• you are subject to the notification requirement of or under Part 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the ordinary period allowed for making an appeal or application in respect of the order or notification has passed.
• you have been convicted of an intimidatory criminal offence motivated by hostility towards a candidate, future candidate or campaigner or holder of a relevant elective office. The effect of a disqualification order is that the person will be disqualified from standing for, being elected to, and holding any relevant elective office for five years.

Further information on becoming a Candidate and Nomination forms can be found on the Electoral Commission website.

If you have any queries you may also contact the Electoral Services Manager:

Tel: 01462 474305
Email: thomas.marsh@north-herts.gov.uk

Induction session timetable

If you have any post election questions you can contact Committee Services.

• Tel: 01462 474655
• Email: committee.services@north-herts.gov.uk