How to become a councillor

Borough elections are held in thirds with one seat for each ward becoming vacant annually, with a fallow year occurring every fourth year.   The next scheduled borough elections will take place on Thursday 3 May 2012.

Any person wanting to stand as a candidate within Knowsley will be issued with a nomination pack.   This pack will contain a nomination paper, which requires completion, including ten signatories: a proposer, a seconder and eight assentors who must be local government electors within the ward the candidate wishes to represent. The nomination paper must be delivered to the Elections Office before the date given on the Notice of Election.

The nomination pack will also contain candidate and agent guidance issued by the Electoral Commission.

Unlike parliamentary elections, a deposit is not required to stand at local elections.

 

Qualifications to stand as a candidate

There are no formal qualifications needed to become a councillor. However to stand validly nominated you must fulfil the following:

Legal requirements to be qualified to be an elected member of the council you must be:

  1. 18 years of age or over at the date of nomination
  2. A Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland or a citizen of another Member State of the European Community and
  3. Meet one of the following four qualifications:
  • A local government elector within the area or
  • Have your principal or only place of work within the area for the whole of the previous 12 months, or
  • Have lived in the area for the whole of the previous 12 months, or
  • Occupied as owner or tenant, any land or premises in the area for the whole of the previous 12 months.

A person cannot become a councillor if:

  • They are employed by the council
  • Hold a politically restricted post
  • Are the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
  •  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
  • Have been disqualified under Part III of the RPA 1983 (which relates to donations and other offences) or under the Audit Commission Act 199831
  • Have been convicted or reported guilty of a corrupt or illegal practice by an election court, or if they have been disqualified from standing for election to a local authority following a decision of the Adjudication Panel for England.

 

Standing as a member of a political party

If you are thinking of standing as a candidate for a particular political party then you will need to be a member of that party's local organisation.  Many parties have a national website, through which you can get information about their organisations in your area.


Standing as an independent candidate 

The majority of people become councillors as a result of joining a political party. However some people stand for election as independents (candidates who do not belong to any political party).  If you wish to stand as and Independent candidate and need further guidance, please see the options below.


Further guidance

Guidance on the process can be found at the Electoral Commission site. Any person wanting further guidance on standing for election within Knowsley can arrange a meeting with the Elections Manager at the Elections Office in Huyton Municipal Buildings, prior to an election.  Please contact the helpline on 0151 443 2222 for assistance.