Electoral Nominations
The Council provides information on the process of electoral nominations, and publishes a list of nominations for the upcoming local election.
How do I become a Councillor?
Full elections are held in all wards every four years in May. You can be a candidate if you are over 18, on the electoral register, and 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.
Most candidates are nominated through a political party. However, individuals are welcome to stand in their own right. Anyone is entitled to stand as a candidate provided they meet the following principal qualifications. Before you can be accepted as a candidate you must get one person to agree to propose your nomination, another person to agree to second the proposal. Both of these people must be on the electoral register.
Service Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria
The candidate must be:
- over 18
- 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.
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 town or community council election two people will need to sign the nomination paper. These two people are known as supporters.
To stand as a candidate in a county borough council election 10 people need to sign the nomination paper. Everyone signing the nomination paper must be included on the Register of Electors for the area in which the election is to be held. If someone signs your nomination paper and they are not included on the relevant Register of Electors, the paper will not be valid.
Guidance Notes:
Name and address must be given in full. The law now limits the description candidates can use.
For a county borough council election, unless a person is standing on behalf of a political party, they may only use the word "Independent" or leave this part blank. Candidates cannot submit a nomination paper using a political party description unless they have their permission to do so and a certificate from them saying that they are allowed to use their description.
Agents do not have to be appointed
However, during an election some candidates appoint persons to assist them in their campaign. These are known as agents as the campaign is organised and legal. They arrange the appointment of other agents (polling and count).
More information on the appointment of polling and counting agents will be given once the decison is made to stand for election
Application Process
Applying for the service
The legal forms, or nomination forms, needed to stand as a Candidate are available from the Electoral Services Office around two weeks before the election period starts.
Benefit or Charge
There is no charge to stand as a candidate for election. There may be costs in standing for election that will have to be paid. The amount depends on the type of campaign but there is a limit on how much can be spent. There is a basic fee, which at the moment is £600, plus 5 pence for every elector on the relevant register of electors. A form must be filled in to say how much you have spent and keep all your receipts for expenditure over £20 to go with the form.
Disqualified Suspension Penalty Compensation
The applicant may be disqualified as a candidate if he/she works 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 a candidate.
Where can I get more information?
More information about standing for election to the Council can be obtained from the Elections Manager, who is:-
Michael Summerville
Hackney Town Hall,
Mare Street,
London
E8 1EA
Tel: 020 8356 3232
Fax: 020 8356 3266
Email: Michael.Summerville@hackney.gov.uk
If you are interested in standing in any elections to the council, please let Michael Summerville know as soon as possible.
Page updated: 21 Feb 2008