Guidance for Candidates at Parish council elections in England

After the close of nominations, the RO will establish whether or not there is a need to hold a poll in the parish or, if the parish is warded, in the parish wards.

If there are more candidates than seats after the deadline for withdrawals, there will be a poll.1 If, however, after the deadline for withdrawals the number of validly nominated candidates is less than or equal to the number of seats to be filled in the electoral area, those candidates are declared to be elected.2

In this case, the RO will declare those candidates to be elected to the parish council as soon as possible and will give public notice of the names of those declared elected.

Even if the election is uncontested, elected candidates must still make a declaration as to their election spending.  You can find more information in our guidance about submitting spending returns and taking up office.