Becoming a Councillor
You can decide to stand for election to become a councillor
The basic rules are that anyone who is a British, Irish or a Commonwealth citizen and who is over 18 years of age, may stand for election to Parliament.
For European and local elections, members of the European Union are entitled to stand as well, providing they are resident in the country/locality where they are standing.
Most people stand under the banner of one of the main political parties and for information on how to do that it is necessary to contact a party directly. However, it is also possible to stand as an Independent or, indeed, start a new party.
The Electoral Commission oversees the election process and provides guidance on a number of issues including the right to vote and how to set up political parties.
A lot of this information can be found in the FAQs section of their website. Go to the Electoral Commission website at http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/
Each year the Electoral Commission publish guidance for candidates and agents at elections.
- I&Dea have produced a guide on becoming a Councillor
