How do I become a councillor?  

• Find out about the role of a Devon county councillor and what Devon County Council does. If you’d like more information, why not sign up to one of our information sessions.
• Know your deadlines! There are certain timescales that the nomination process must adhere to which are set out in law and cannot be changed. We have provided an overview of the nomination process, but the exact dates for the key deadlines will be confirmed by the County Returning Officer along with Deputy Returning Officers at each district council in autumn 2024. You can find your local district council by using the post code checker on the Government website.
• Learn more about your community and what’s important to them. There are more top tips for how you can do this and start building your profile on the Local Government Association website.
• Read The Electoral Commission’s guidance for candidates.

The next Devon County Council elections are Thursday 1 May 2025, but other councils may run on different cycles so it’s always best to check first!

Top tip! Don’t be put off because that seems a long way off. Starting early can give you time to understand more about the County Council, the role of a councillor and what’s important to your community.

You can check if you’re registered on the electoral roll and find out more about registering from your local district council’s Electoral Services Team.

It’s important to check that you’re eligible to be become a Devon county councillor before you apply. Find out more about the eligibility criteria and the disqualifications.

You will need to decide whether you want to stand as a candidate for a political party or as an Independent candidate. You can find out more about this on our website here.

Please note, if you would like to stand for a political party, your first step should be to contact the Leader of the political group within Devon County Council that you are interested in. They will choose who will represent them in each area. The parties currently represented on the County Council, along with their group Leaders and emails, are:

• Conservative Party
  Devon County Council Group Leader – James McInnes
  Email: james.mcinnes@devon.gov.uk
• Green Party
  Acting Field Organiser – Steve Lloyd
  Email: steve.lloyd@greenparty.org.uk
• Labour Party
  Devon County Council Group Leader – Carol Whitton
  Email: carol.whitton@devon.gov.uk
• Liberal Democrats
  Devon County Council Group Leader – Caroline Leaver
  Email: Caroline.Leaver@devon.gov.uk

If you are selected, the party will offer their own guidance and support for completing the nomination process.

An election agent is someone who will be responsible for the proper management of your campaign, including financial management. They’ll also be able to receive important communications from your local Returning Officer at your district council and are allowed at postal vote openings and at polling day. You don’t have to appoint an election agent, and if you choose not to, you will become your own election agent.

There’s more information about election agents on The Electoral Commission website including who can be an election agent and how to appoint them.

There is no official date that dictates when you can begin campaigning and you do not have to wait until you are officially nominated to tell people that you are running, publish campaign material or ask people to support you and your campaign.

However, there are rules and guidance that candidates and their agents should follow for candidate spending, candidate donations and campaigning. The election spending limits will apply from the day after you officially become a candidate. You can learn more on the Electoral Commission website using the links below.

Please note that some of the information may not have been updated for 2025 elections.

• Who is responsible for candidate spending and donations?
• Guidance for candidate spending in local government elections in England.
• Guidance on candidate donations in local government elections in England.
• Information and guidance about campaigning in local government elections in England.

Once you’ve considered the steps above, you’ll be ready to start the nomination process.

Whether you have decided to stand for a political party or as an Independent candidate, you will need to make sure you are officially nominated as the election date approaches. If you are standing for a political party, they will assist you with the nomination process. More detail is provided about standing on behalf of a political party in The Electoral Commission guidance on the nomination process.

Electoral Services Teams at each of the eight district and city councils in Devon administer the County Council elections on our behalf, this includes the nomination process to stand as a candidate. However, we do have a overview of the process for your information.

• The nomination process