The Electoral Commission guidance on local elections provides nomination papers and forms, and notes for candidates (and their agents) about standing for election.
Potential candidates
To be elected as a Member of Parliament, a City of York Councillor or a Parish Councillor, you must be:
- 18 years of age or over at the date of nomination, and;
- either a British Citizen, a Commonwealth citizen, a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, or a citizen of another European Union State
The Electoral Commission provide free candidates' guides for all elections which are updated regularly.
Potential City of York Councillor candidates
To be elected as a member of City of York Council you must also be:
- be a local government elector for the City of York Council area, or;
- have occupied as owner or tenant any land or premises in the City of York Council area during the whole of the 12 months before your nomination as candidate, or;
- your principal or only place of work before the day of your nomination as a candidate has been in the City of York Council area, or;
- you have resided in the City of York Council area during the whole of the 12 months before the day of your nomination as a candidate
Potential Parish Councillor candidates
To be qualified to be elected as a member for a parish council a person must also be:
- are registered as a local government elector for the parish, or;
- have during the whole of the 12 months preceding the day of their nomination as candidate occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish, or;
- their principal or only place of work during those 12 months has been in that parish, or;
- have during the whole of those 12 months resided in that parish or within 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) of the parish
Contested Parish or Town Council Elections
Where a parish or town council has sufficient nominations to cause an election, it will be combined with the City of York Council Elections that are held on the same day.
Use of public buildings
Candidates may want to engage with the public at public meetings, promoting their views and responding to questions from the audience.
The Electoral Registration Officer holds a list of the location and availability of meeting rooms in our area. This list is available for inspection by candidates and election agents (and persons authorised by them) on request to electoral services from the day that the notice of election is published.
Once you are a candidate you will be able to use available public rooms up until the day before polling day. You should contact the owner of the premises to make a booking, giving reasonable notice to reduce the risk of the request being refused. There is no hire charge for using these rooms, but you must pay for any expenses incurred, such as heating, lighting and cleaning, and for any damage to the premises.
Your right to use the room does not include hours during which a school is used for educational purposes or when any prior letting of a room has been agreed.
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