First steps to becoming a councillor

Your first chance to stand as a councillor is likely to be in you next local council elections, although if a vacancy occurs before then you may have the opportunity to stand as a candidate in a by-election.

Local political parties are already beginning to recruit their candidates for the 2010 elections. Look at the Useful Links page to find out how to contact the political parties in your area or your council's democratic services department.

Once you decide you want to take it further and put yourself forward as a candidate for election, what's the next step?

The answer depends to some extent whether you want to represent a political party or whether you would be an independent candidate. If you want to represent a political party then the next step would be for you to get involved with your party locally. By getting involved you will find out more about what the roles entails, who you will be working with and what it takes to win elections.

Ultimately it's up to the political party's local group to decide whether to select you as a candidate so you need to make contact with them as soon as possible and get involved with their work locally. If you want to stand for them the parties will expect you to be, or become, a paid-up party member.

Our three political advisers here can advise you on how to get in touch with your chosen party locally and answer your questions about how to become a candidate. Find their details on the Who to contact page.

As the election date draws nearer and you have been selected by a party as a candidate, or are standing as an independent candidate, you must make sure you are officially 'nominated'. This means getting 10 nomination papers, each signed by a registered elector of the ward where you wish to stand. These papers are available from your local council's democratic services department Opens in a new window. You must also give your consent in writing to your nomination.

If you are a candidate for a registered political party, you must also submit a certificate from the party's nominating officer, authorising you and your use of the party's description and emblem.

If you are standing independently, you can only describe yourself as "independent" or give no description at all.

All the necessary documents must be submitted 19 working days before the day of the election.