How to become a candidate at local government elections

In order to become a candidate at a local government election in England you must be sure you are eligible to stand, and then submit a set of nomination papers, which can be collected from the Electoral Services Office.

Who can be a candidate?

To be eligible to stand as a candidate at a local election in England, you must be:

At least 18 years old on the day you hand in your nomination papers and be a British Citizen, or a Citizen of the Irish Republic, the Commonwealth or another member state of the European Union.

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

1. You are a registered local government elector in the local authority area, both on the day you are nominated and election day. You can check whether you are registered by contacting the Electoral Services Office; or
2. You have occupied, either as an owner or a tenant, any land or premises in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day you are nominated and election day; or
3. Your main or only place of work during the 12 months before the day you are nominated and election day has been in the local authority area; or
4. You have lived in the local authority area during the whole of the 12 months before the day you are nominated and election day.

Nomination form

Your nomination form must be signed by a proposer, a seconder and eight other local government electors in the ward, who assent to the nomination.

If you are standing on behalf of a registered political party, your nomination form must be accompanied by a certificate issued by or on behalf of the party’s registered nominating officer.

Why can’t I be a candidate?

Certain people are disqualified from being elected to a local authority. You cannot be a candidate if:

• You are employed by the local authority or hold a paid office under the authority (including joint boards or committees); or
• You are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order; or
  You have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment of three months or more (including a suspended sentence) without the option of a fine, during the five years before election day; or
• You have been disqualified under Part 111 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 or under the Audit Commission Act 1998.

You may also be disqualified from an election if you have been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court, or if you have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for England.

Contacts

The council’s returning officer is contactable at:

The Town Hall
Mulberry Place
5 Clove Crescent
London E14 2BG

Tel: 0207 364 0906
E-mail: electoralservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Further information

• For more local election information, please contact the Electoral Registration Office
• For information on election matters generally, please contact the Electoral Commission.

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