Parish and community council elections in England and Wales

Read in Welsh / Darllenwch y Gymraeg

This page contains all the guidance and resources that you need if you are a candidate at a parish or community election in England and Wales.

Click here for guidance for standing in other elections

Jump to the timetable of key events >

An overview document gives instructions on how to use this guidance and who does what at these elections. Read the Overview for candidates (PDF) >

We welcome feedback from those using our guidance in order to help us improve it:

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Guidance and resources

	Contents Qualifications for standing for election Disqualifications from standing for election	Resources List of Commonwealth countries List of EU member states
Part 1: Can you stand for election? (PDF)
	Contents Completing and submitting your nomination papers Being nominated in more than one ward What happens after the close of nominations? Appointing agents to observe electoral processes What happens if a candidate dies?	Resources Nomination papers Withdrawal form Polling agent appointment form Postal voting agent appointment form Counting agent appointment form
Part 2a: Standing as an independent candidate (PDF)
	Contents Completing and submitting your nomination papers Nomination in more than one ward What happens after the close of nominations Appointing agents to observe electoral processes What happens if a candidate dies?	Resources Nomination papers Withdrawal form Polling agent appointment form Postal voting agent appointment form Counting agent appointment form
Part 2b: Standing as a party candidate (PDF)
	Contents How much you can spend The activities covered by the rules What information needs to be recorded and reported	Resources Hustings events (PDF)
Part 3: Candidate's spending form and notes (PDF)
	Contents Campaigning dos and don'ts Using the electoral register and absent voters' lists Using schools and rooms for public meetings Imprints on campaign publicity material Polling day dos and don'ts Reporting allegations of electoral malpractice	Resources Register request form Absent voters' list request form Tellers’ guidance Tellers’ dos and don’ts Code of conduct on handling absent vote applications and postal votes Secrecy requirements - the poll Secrecy requirements - postal voting Secrecy requirements - the count
Part 4: The campaign (PDF)
	Contents Attending the opening of postal votes and what to expect Attending polling stations and what to expect Attending the count and what to expect	Resources Polling agent appointment form Postal voting agent appointment form Counting agent appointment form Tellers’ guidance Tellers’ dos and don’ts Secrecy requirements - the poll Secrecy requirements - postal voting Secrecy requirements - the count
Part 5: Your right to attend key electoral events (PDF)
	Contents Making the declaration of acceptance of office Access to election paperwork Submitting your spending returns and declarations Questioning the result through an election petition	Resources Candidate's spending form and notes (PDF)
Part 6: After the declaration of results (PDF)

Timetable for the 3 May 2012 elections

Date	Event
Click here for a detailed timetable for the 2012 elections (DOC)
23 March 2012	Deadline to apply to register a new party to contest elections
27 March 2012	Last date for publication of notice of election
12 noon on 4 April 2012	Close of nominations
17 May 2012	Last day for receipt of invoices for election spending
24 May 2012	Last day for payment of invoices for election spending
31 May 2012	Last day for submitting election spending return
7 working days from the day the candidate's spending return is submitted	Last day for receipt of candidate's declaration