Local government elections in England

On this page you will find:

• guidance and support products for Returning Officers at local government elections in England
• guidance for candidates and agents at local government elections in England, including nomination forms

Local government elections results - 6 May 2010

Results from the local government elections are announced locally and are not collected centrally. However, results are available from other sources including the BBC. We will publish full verified results in the months following the election.

• You can see results and analysis of previous elections here. 

Guidance for Returning Officers 

Planning guidance

• Essentials of effective election management (PDF)
• Contract development checklist (PDF)
  

Performance standards template plans

• Template plans for Returning Officers planning a local government election in England (DOC)

Election timetable

The following timetable covers the combined UK general election and local government elections in England held on 6 May 2010.   

• Combined timetable, 6 May 2010  
  

Guidance manual

• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Contents (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part A - Context (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part B - Action before the poll (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part C - Absent voting (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part D - The poll (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part E - Verification and count (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part F - After the declaration of result (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part G - Combination of polls (PDF)
• Managing a local government election in England and Wales: guidance for Returning Officers - Part H - Performance standards for Returning Officers in Great Britain (PDF)

Nominations checklists for Returning Officers

• Nominations checklist for Returning Officers - principal area elections (DOC)
• Nominations checklist for Returning Officers - parishes (DOC)

Polling station handbook and other polling station support products 

• Polling station handbook (PDF)
• Polling station quick guide (PDF)
• Polling station handbook for combined UK Parliamentary and local government elections (PDF)
• Polling station quick guide for combined UK Parliamentary and local government elections (PDF) 

• Template briefing session for polling station staff (PPT)
• Template briefing for polling station staff at a combined UK Parliamentary and local government election (PPT)

• Ballot paper account exercise (DOC)
• Sample ballot paper account (DOC)
• Multi-choice quiz with answers (DOC)
• Role play / scenarios (DOC)
• Close of poll packing istructions (DOC)
• Instructions and checklist for polling station inspectors (DOC)
• Advice to the Presiding Officer regarding personation (DOC)
• Polling station log for electors arriving to vote but shown as absent voters on the register (DOC)

Postal voting support products

• Postal vote matching spreadsheet (XLS)
• Postal vote matching spreadsheet for a combined UK general and local election (XLS)

Briefing for candidates and agents

• Template briefing for candidates and agents (PPT)

Count guidance and other count support products

• Supporting Returning Officers managing the local government election held on Thursday 6 May 2010: The ward/electoral division count model (DOC)
• Appendix A - Count preparation checklist (DOC)
• Appendix B - The count aims (DOC)
• Appendix C - Count structure (DOC)
• Appendix D - A typical count layout (DOC)
• Appendix E - Count activities flowchart (DOC)
• Appendix F - Ballot box registration sheet (DOC) 
• Appendix F - Ballot box registration sheet (XLS)
• Appendix G - Verification statement (DOC)
• Appendix G - Verification statement (XLS)
• Appendix H - Count record control sheet (DOC)
• Appendix H - Count record control sheet (XLS)
• Appendix I - Team count sheet (DOC)
• Appendix I - Team count sheet (XLS)
• Appendix J - Recording sheet (DOC)
• Appendix J - Recording sheet (XLS)
• Appendix K - Count summary statement (DOC)
• Appendix K - Count summary statement (XLS)
• Appendix L - Announcement of results template (DOC)
• Appendix L - Announcement of results template (XLS)

• doubtful ballot paper booklet (PDF)
  
• doubtful ballot paper placemat - single-member ward/division (PDF)
  
• doubtful ballot paper placemat - two-member ward/division (PDF)
  
• doubtful ballot paper placemat - three-member ward/division (PDF)
  

Designing voter materials 

We have provided guidance on designing voter materials, as well as examples of forms and notices on our dedicated page on our DoPolitics site entitled 'Making your mark'.

Data collection

• Data forms for the local elections in England (XLS)

Guidance for candidates and agents

For elections held on 6 May 2010

• Guidance for candidates and agents (PDF)
• Erratum sheet to the guidance following new legislation (PDF)
  
• Nomination papers (DOC)
• Nomination papers (PDF)- for on-screen completion and printing. Please download and save this form to your desktop before completing it as, otherwise, you may not be able to make any changes to it.

• Supplementary guidance for candidates: Parish, community and town council elections (PDF)
• Nominations checklist (DOC) - parishes
  
• Nomination papers (DOC) - parishes
• Nomination papers (PDF) - parishes - for on-screen completion and printing. Please download and save this form to your desktop before completing it as, otherwise, you may not be able to make any changes to it.
  

• Supplement for candidates and agents at a mayoral election (PDF)
• Nominations checklist (PDF) - mayoral election
• Nomination papers (DOC) - mayoral election

• Electoral register request form (DOC)

• For information on election spending rules and relevant forms, please visit our candidates and agents page.

Non-date specific

• Guidance for candidates and agents (PDF) - ARCHIVE (For by-elections we recommend using the 2010 version as this includes our latest guidance. However, candidates will need to be alerted to the fact that the dates will not be relevant for the by-election.)
  
• Election timetable template (DOC)

Questions

If you have any queries, please contact your nearest Electoral Commission office or your local Returning Officer. Visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk for the contact details of your local authority.