Local elections in Wales
Guidance and resources that you need if you are a candidate or agent at local elections in Wales
Click here for guidance on community council elections
For instructions on how to use this guidance and who does what at these elections read the overview below.
Click here for the generic timetable for local elections in Wales
2022 legislation caveat
The guidance on this page has been updated to reflect provisions of The Local Elections (Principal Areas) (Wales) Rules 2021, The Local Elections (Communities) (Wales) Rules 2021 and The Local Elections (Miscellaneous and Consequential Amendments)(Wales) Regulations 2022 that take effect for principal area and community council elections held on and after the 5 May 2022.
Please contact the Electoral Commission Wales team via [email protected] if you require any assistance.
We published supplementary guidance in 2021 to support candidates and agents participating in polls during the coronavirus pandemic. This remains available for your reference:
Can you stand for election?
This part covers:
- Qualifications for standing for election
Disqualifications from standing for election
Standing as an independent candidate
This part covers:
- Completing and submitting your nomination papers
- Being nominated in more than one ward
- What happens after the close of nominations?
- Appointing your election agent and other agents
- What happens if a candidate dies?
Standing as a party candidate
This part covers:
- Completing and submitting your nomination papers
- Nomination in more than one ward
- What happens after the close of nominations
- Appointing your election agent and other agents
- What happens if a candidate dies?
Spending and donations
This part covers:
- How much you can spend
- The activities covered by the rules
- Which donations you can accept
- How to check donations you receive
- What information needs to be recorded and reported
The campaign
his part covers:
- 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
Your right to attend key electoral events
This part covers:
- Attending the opening of postal votes and what to expect
- Attending polling stations and what to expect
- Attending the count and what to expect
After the declaration of results
This part covers:
- Making the declaration of acceptance of office
- Access to election paperwork
- Submitting your spending returns and declarations
- Questioning the result through an election petition