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Step 1:
When: Any time before beginning the nomination process.
They can provide up to date, local information about the elections as well as the nomination process and its key deadlines. If you aren’t sure who your local district council is, check using the post code checker on the Government website.
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Step 2:
When: From Monday 3 February 2025.
You can request your nomination papers from the Electoral Services Team at your local district council. For further information, contact your local district council.
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Step 3:
When: You must complete and submit them by 4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025.
The Electoral Services Team at your local district council will be able to help if you have any questions about completing your papers. There is also more information and guidance for completing your nomination papers on The Electoral Commission website.
Top tip! Remember you’ll need to have the signatures of two registered electors for the ward you wish to stand in (a proposer and a seconder of your nomination).
Also, be aware that all councils will publish a new electoral register with updated electoral numbers sometime between 1 December 2024 and 1 February 2025. This means current electoral numbers will change. To ensure your nomination papers have the correct electoral numbers for your proposer and seconder, and that they are still registered at the time of delivery of nomination papers, contact the Electoral Services Team at your local District Council.
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Step 4:
When: Tuesday 25 March 2025.
The Notice of Election will be published by both the County Returning Officer and Deputy Returning Officers at each district council. It will set out the start date from when you can submit your nomination papers as well as where you will need to deliver them and the timings for this. This will be available online on both our website and each of the district council websites.
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Step 5:
By: 4pm on Wednesday 2 April 2025.
You will need to return your nomination papers to the Deputy Returning Officer at your local district council. The details for where and how to submit your nomination, will be confirmed in the Notice of Election. You are responsible for making sure your papers are submitted correctly so make sure it’s done by you, your election agent or someone you trust.
Your Deputy Returning Officer at your local district council will be able to provide information about the local arrangements for submitting nomination papers. They can be contacted via the Electoral Services Team in your district council.
There is also general guidance about submitting nomination papers on The Electoral Commission website.
Top tip! Aim to submit your papers in advance of the deadline, this should give you time to make any changes and resubmit them if needed.
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Step 6:
When: The timelines for this may vary depending on when you submit your nomination papers.
Once you have submitted your papers you will be sent a notice by the Deputy Returning Officer to let you know whether your nomination is valid or not.
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Step 7:
When: 4pm on Thursday 3 April 2025.
A statement of persons nominated will be published on our website and by each of the district councils. For more information about what is included on it, visit The Electoral Commission website.
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Step 8:
There’s lots of advice and guidance about what happens before, during and after polling day. For local information, contact your Electoral Services Team at your district council. There’s also information on The Electoral Commission and Local Government Association websites.
- The Electoral Commission has useful information for candidates and agents about postal votes, polling day and what happens after polling day.
- The Local Government Association also has information about next steps and a useful checklist for polling day on their website.
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