Full Borough Council elections are held in all wards every four years, usually the first Thursday in May. The next scheduled Borough and parish council elections are Thursday 4 May 2023.
Key dates:
- Wednesday 22 March – election period begins.
- Tuesday 4 April – deadline to submit nomination papers to stand for election.
- Monday 17 April – voter registration deadline.
- Tuesday 18 April – deadline for electors to apply for postal votes.
- Tuesday 25 April – deadline for electors to apply for a proxy vote.
- Tuesday 25 April – deadline for electors to apply for free Voter ID.
Most candidates are nominated through a political party. However, individuals are welcome to stand in their own right.
Before you can be accepted as a candidate you must get supporters to propose your nomination and you must sign a declaration and consent to Nomination. All the supporters must be on the electoral register.
To become a candidate you must be over 18 years of age at the date of nomination and:
- be on the electoral register, or
- have lived, worked or owned property in the area for at least the past 12 months.
You may be disqualified as a candidate if you work for the council or hold a politically restricted post with another local authority. Bankruptcy or a previous criminal conviction with a three-month or more prison sentence would also disqualify you as a candidate.
No experience of any sort is needed to stand for election as a Councillor.