How to Become a Councillor
Full elections are held in all wards every four years in May. The next election is May 2010. Anyone is entitled to stand as a candidate provided they meet the eligibility criteria below.
To be a candidate you must:
- Be over 18
- Be on the Electoral register
- Have lived or worked as a British / Irish / Commonwealth / European citizen or owned property in the area for at least the past 12 months
No experience of any sort is needed to stand for any Council.
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 one person to agree to propose your nomination and another person to agree to second the proposal. Both of these people must be on the Electoral Register. For more information about the nomination process you can visit www.councillor.gov.uk.
Disqualification
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.
Evidence Required
To stand as a candidate at any election a nomination paper must be submitted. The nomination paper gives details of name, address and political description. A nomination paper has to be signed by the correct number of supporters.
To stand as a candidate in a council election two people will need to sign the nomination paper. These two people are known as supporters.
The people signing the nomination paper must be on the Electoral Register in Hackney. If someone signs your nomination paper and they are not on the Electoral Register, the paper will not be valid.
Guidance for Candidates and Election Agents
Guidance notes on the process can be downloaded from www.electoralcommission.org.uk.
Application Process
The legal forms (or nomination forms) that you need to complete before standing as a candidate are available from the Electoral Services Office around two weeks before the election period starts. Please contact Electoral Services for more information.
Cost of the campaign
There is no charge to stand as a candidate for election, but there may be costs in standing for election that will have to be paid by candidates. The amount depends on the type of campaign but there is a limit on how much can be spent
Limits on how much candidates can spend
For individual candidates, whether standing for a registered political party or as an independent, the limits on election expenses are as follows:
- Council elections: £600 plus 5p per elector on the Electoral Register
Expenses
An expenses form must be completed to say how much you have spent and you must keep all your receipts for expenditure over £20 to go with this form.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about standing for election to the Council please contact the Elections Manager, using the contact details on the right.
Useful documents
Code of Conduct for members
Hackney Council has adopted a Code of Conduct for Members in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000. The Code will assist the Council in providing excellent local government for the people of the borough.
Register of Members Interest Form
All members must declare any financial and other interest on the register of members. If you have any items to declare, please complete the 
Register of Members Financial and Other Interests form
Declaration of Acceptance of Office form
The Declaration of Acceptance of Office form is for those members that have been elected into office and must declare the responsibilities and duties to the council.
Page updated: 20 Oct 2010
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