Guidance for Returning Officers administering Local Government Elections in England

You must publish a notice of poll by not later than the sixth working day before polling day for each ward if there are more candidates then there are vacancies and there is to be a contest.1
 
The notice of poll must state:

• the date and the hours of the poll
• the number of councillors to be elected in the ward
• the particulars of the candidates standing validly nominated, and
• the names of the subscribers

Legislation requires that the particulars of the candidates on the notice of poll to be the same as those on the statement of persons nominated. You must ensure that where a candidate has chosen to have their home address withheld from the statement of persons nominated and the ballot papers, the home address must not be included on the notice of poll either.

You should give a copy of the notice of poll to all candidates and election agents as soon as practicable after its publication.

We have published a template notice of poll here: